Los fragmentos de un Alma Rota

2012-01-18T16:17:00.003-08:00

Questions that Need Answering

2012-01-18T16:17:00.001-08:00

So I’m going to keep this relatively short, because I keep making it overly complicated.

First things first. In terms of the ‘crowd source’ questions I asked folks:
I’m getting a Kindle. The final thing that decided it for me was the audio reader. The nook is awesome, but the Kindle has one or two bells and whistles that matter to me more.

As far as the sport I’m going to research, that’s going to be Football. It was a close call at the end between Baseball, Soccer and Football. I decided that ultimately football did indeed appeal to the war gamer in me, and also I like the NFL more than I like the Baseball owners. I especially like the Green Bay Packers who are actually owned by their city…and are unique in both sports. In fact, I could be wrong but they might be unique in all professional American sports. Certainly major league ones. Though, if I am wrong, I’ll learn more. I still lack a favorite AAA college team to root for, since I’m fairly certain BU is…not. TAMU is fun but it just doesn’t feel like my school and BYU…yeah.

Move is going well. I’ll be heading out Tuesday. It is…not ideal in some ways for me and ideal in others. I have a fixed plan in mind and a destination. It isn’t perfect but it will work. I think. I’ll post more musings like that on my birthday.
Writing going well with a few hiccups but mostly well. A bit behind on exercise but that’s in part because of how busy I am. Also a bit behind on dancing. I’m going to wait until Feb or March when I don’t have so many expenses and probably just hire a tutor directly instead of taking classes to match what I’m doing. The voice over classes are awesome and it will definitely help me make it a viable business on the side.

All for now. More to come later.

2012 Goals

2011-12-31T10:49:00.000-08:00

Last year, I set my goals a bit too low. On the one hand, that was a justifiable attempt to focus my efforts on less things to do them better (which worked). On the other hand, I did not use my full capacity. First of all, I can write a lot more, and was until I got morally crushed by the ‘workshop’ at World con. Second, I had met almost all of my goals by early December, with the exception of the script. Goals need to be something that are attainable, but at the same time push you to your limit. One should seek, and strive and always attempt to exceed one’s grasp, per the poem. And I agree with that philosophy.

So this year for each goal category, I’m setting up three kinds of goals. The ‘Critical’ goal will be the most important, without the completion of which, that entire category is essentially a failure. There will also be up to three ‘Important’ goals which should be met because they establish quotas for very long distance goals that will take many years to complete. The final category will be ‘bonus’ goals, which I believe would be nice, are something I want to do, and can be something that will help me become a better person etc.

Physical

Critical Goal: Reach and largely sustain a weight of 250lbs.

Important Goals:

Reduce Toxicity by 20% (Test Jan 2012 and Dec 2012 at least)

Increase Aerobic Endurance by 50% (Test Jan 15, 2012)

Flat Abs (Subjective improvement of 100% based on comparison Jan – July – December 2012)

Bonus

Do the Warrior Dash at least once

Play in some physical competitive league/sport/tournament thing

Mental
Critical Goal: Read the following six books:
*The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
*The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
*The Federalist Papers
*Infinite Jest
*The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keyes
*Common Sense

Important Goals
Learn 3 New Non Social Skills (Likely Dancing, Cooking and Something Outdoors)

Read at least 5 books about a single major contemporary sport (Not the Olympics)

Read at least 10 books from the ‘classics’ list

Bonus:
Write a review for each book read in terms of a goal on my review blog to keep track

Read 10 books from the top 100 Sci Fi list of all time (Or bestseller if I’ve read
them all)

Emotional
Critical Goal: Develop an optimistic attitude (Or at least make significant progress towards such)

Important Goals
Laugh at least once a week

Empathize with someone of another perspective at least once a week

Stop talking about people that I no longer want or need to have anything to do with on a regular basis

Bonus
Learn to control my attitude at will

Experience prolonged joy

Spiritual
Critical Goal: Refine my personal spiritual beliefs to decide what it is I really believe about God. Post to my spiritual blog by the end of 2012.

Important Goals
Read the spiritual text of a major world religion

Meditate often

Go to Alchemy

Social
Critical Goal: If appropriate come April 2012, Operation Bitter Apple

Important Goals
Reach Level 20

Take 6 Swing Classes and Go out Swing Dancing at least 6 times

Attend at least 5 FL ‘Events’

Bonus
Take an Improv Class

First Life (Retired)

Critical Goal: None. A ‘retired’ life by definition has no critical goal.
Important Goal

Run 3 ‘mini arc’ games of 3 sessions each.

Record any games played in my RPG blog.

Take at least 10 yoga classes.

Bonus
Attempt to run a PBEM for 6 months

Run another mega plot on Dark Metal mush

Wrap up Belan’s arc successfully

40 Karma increase for Bob in Shadowrun Missions
Play in at least 2 Larps
Help run games for SEIGE 2012
Pay an Homage to Byeard M by running one of his games at a con
Establish ties to Portland Gaming community.

Second Life
Critical Goal: Finish the first draft of Novel Five (Starting March 2012)
Important Goals:

Finish Play/Poem “Tenth Muse” by March 2012.

Write 2 Feature Length Movie Scripts

Start the Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast (by April 2012)

Bonus
Sell something written to a ‘gate keeper’ that is a professional or semiprofessional publication.
Write 5 Horror short stories
Write 3 Sci Fi short stories
Write 2 Non supernatural stories
Write 1 entirely inappropriate story
Write an entry for each Write Club monthly venue
Join Atlanta Playwrites
Write 10 Episodes for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky.
Write $200000 worth of Grants for Mythic.
Establish ties to the Portland Writing community.

Third Life
Critical Goal: Produce Unfood (or at least have it Produced)

Important Goals
Get involved with another web series either as writer, crew or elsewise.
Take an acting class
Film footage for “Earth and Sea and Star and Sky”

Bonus
Be an extra in at least one short film
Read at least 20 hours for GARRS
Take another sound class
Help with sound in at least one short film
Enter something in some film festival somewhere.
Participate in the 48 hour film festival in some capacity
Establish ties to the Portland Theater Community.

Fourth Life
Critical Goal: Only take Project Management jobs as my ‘day job’

Important Goals
Make a $5000 profit for Red Anvil Amalgamated
Hire an Accountant in March 2012
Get the CAMP or the PMP by the end of 2012

Bonus
Get at least 4 paid VO gigs.
Get at least 5 paid gigs for Emergency Documentation.
Join and interact with the least Reality Deviant Chamber of Commerce I can find in the Atlanta Metro area.
Start or Join MOD team
Participate in Video Game Jam 2012
Establish ties to the Portland Business community.

Fifth Life
Critical Goal: Finish reading and applying the principals of the core books (US, TAS, and Unknown Book #3)
Important Goals
Find a patron(s)
The Year of the Phoenix (decide by Feb 2012)
Learn Self Defense

Sixth Life
Critical Goal: Decide to implement and then implement EITHER Operation Dark Hammerfell or Operation Montoya Hammerfell
Important Goals
Monitor and Follow Up on Traffic Stop of Evil
Help those trying to make the world a better place indirectly at least 5 times in concrete ways
Avoid voting for War Criminals

Seventh Life (In Reserve till 2027)
Incidental Goals
These goals are all, by definition ‘bonus’ that do not fit into a particular category OR are implementations of Life goals, which are Important.
Go to Dragon Con
Go to Anachro Con
Go to Mardigras (if I win my bet with myself)
Go to FC
Obtain 5 Physical Objects (An annual tradition at this point): Fix the Bumper, Fix my Teeth, Ereader, Running Stilts (Once I reach 250), and a fifth item to be determined in July 2012 at the mid year goal check.
Go to Canooga
Go to at least one Anime con.
Go to Play It On Con
Complete 70% of all bonus goals
Complete 80% of all bonus goals
Complete 90% of all bonus goals
Get a tattoo based on the Gathering of the Seven
Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2012-2013. Likely 2013 but 2012 may have great deals that show up.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

7. Learn a musical instrument.
Slated 2014
8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Completed.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2012

13. Go on a cruise.
2012. October unless I find a really cool themed one before or after.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
Slated 2015.
18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in Winter 2012 unless an opportunity comes before hand.
26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

27. Ditto the sixth.
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
Do unfood in 2012.
48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.
49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)
50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)
51. Join the Masons.
52. Hypnotize someone.
53. Firewalk.
54. Visit the Library of Congess

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)
4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.

Report Card 2011

2011-12-27T17:39:00.001-08:00

Goals for 2011.

Social

Make One Person As Happy As Possible (Besides Myself)

**Grade: A+

Visit with the Family at least once (likely to be the Family Reunion)

**Grade: A+

Spend Quality Time with Friends at least Twice a Month

**Grade: A+

Do a Good Turn Monthly

**Grade: A+

Initiate Social Activities at least once a Quarter (Group Dates do not count for this)

**Grade: A+

Career (AKA "The 4th Life")

Gain a Stable Permanent Job I Like To Do That Pays Well

**Grade: C (A for Effort, F for results)

Set up a consulting business for side Project Management Work

**Grade: A+ (Paperwork laid down, Decided to implement in January due to the creation of Emergency Documentation)

Continue Project Chrysalis with Mythic Imagination Institute

**Grade: B+ (I am no longer in charge of Project Chrysalis but I am doing Project Peabody for them and its going gangbusters)

Take the PRP in June 2011

**Grade: F (Deferred to 2012 for more actual rather than contrived experience)

3rd Life

My Project: Project Dance Of Joy (Film)

**Grade: A+ (Re: As cover for party.....heheheheheh...I love it when a plan comes together.)

**Grade: F (But on the other hand, I no longer have any interest in doing this film)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Pi Project Management and Writing

**Grade: N/A (Sentinel is no longer a part of my life.)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel 4.0 Project Management and Writing

**Grade: N/A (Sentinel is no longer a part of my life.)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Podcast

**Grade: N/A (Sentinel is no longer a part of my life.)

Learn To Edit

**Grade: A+

Finish Editing Dueling Morons

**Grade: A+ (Somehow I managed to make this come together)

2nd Life

Write 75000 words

Grade: A+

Decide if I like the 5th novel by the 15th of Jan. If not start another by Feb 1. If not then 5 Short Stories + 1 Feature Length Film

**Grade: A+

Finish the Graphic Novel (Est 5000 more words)

**Grade: A+ Finished. This project is on hold because the artist has a project of her own that takes priority.

Affiliated Project: Maintain at least 90% post rate on Nerdgasm

**Grade: A (Whilst participating in Nerdgasm, my posts were right on track)

Help at least 3 people with their writing, either to start or to help them edit.

**Grade: A+ (Albeit only one of the original 3 I had in mind was one of the three I actually helped)

1rst Life - Retired.

Publish T7 Project (Now mostly done.)

**Grade: F (I just ran out of steam on this, but it was an A as a life lesson, because sometimes it is wiser to just walk away from something)

Physical

Get at least 3 more belts in Karate
**A+

Decide then: Either 2 (5 total) belts in Karate OR Start a New Martial Arts OR Start Yoga

**Grade: Incomplete (Injury + Unemployment made this impossible to complete. I will be able to do yoga in 2012 however…)

Continue Weight Training OR Start Cross Training OR Start Free Weights

**Grade: B

Cardio 2 additional times per week

**Grade: B

Mental

Read 12 Non Fiction Books

**Grade: A- (10 of 12, working on 2 more.)

Read 12 Non Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction (at least 2 of which should be classics)

**Grade: A-

Read 12 Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction

**Grade: A+

Do Something to improve my creativity

**Grade: A+ (Pushpush + Write Club + Helping others)

Learn a New Skill

**Grade: A (This was originally meant to be cooking or something similar, but ended up being other more hard to define social and spiritual skills which I still feel qualifies)

Spiritual

Read at least one major religious text of a religion that is not my own that I have not read before.

**Grade: B+

Meditate/Pray at least 3 times a week

**Grade: A+

Emotional
Be More Generous

**Grade: A+
Be More Kind

**Grade: A+

Stop Talking about Dark Things

**Grade: B

Withdraw From Politics as Much as Reasonably Possible

**Grade: C

Incidental

*Go to Gencon OR San Diego Comicon OR World Con OR Dragon Con

**Grade: A+
Go on at least 6 'weekend' trips, ideally at least one per month.

**Grade: A+

*Go to NYC for at least 3 days (will count as one of the above trips)

**Grade: D (Double Unemployment prevented this, on the other hand I had the chance to go to OWS in its early days and did not go so I still count it a low grade)

*Make CONCRETE plans to go to France in 2012 (or 2011 if realistically possible)

**Grade: F (Double Unemployment excuses, but does not change the failure in this category. I may still go in 2012, but 2013 is looking more likely)

*Spend at least 20 hours at the range improving either pistol OR rifle OR shot gun skills.

**Grade: F.

*Obtain the Following: A decent couch, a gaming console of some kind (likely a Wii), 10 DVD's for my permanent collection, a piece of original art and something to advance one of my other goals in a meaningful way.

**Grade: A+

*Do at least one major good deed entirely anonymously. (Besides acknowledging completion of the goal in the assessment)

**Grade: A+

*Finish the Graphic Novel script and work with Liz to edit as needed.

**Grade: A+

*Finish the 4th Novel with Ken and help him market it as needed.

**Grade: A+ (Even if this does seem now dead, we finished it and I did some marketing)

Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2012-2013.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Done

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
**Bucketed. I’m no longer really that thrilled about this goal.

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

"Start" in 2011-2012. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.
**Grade: A- Started, but not really started at a full level.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Completed.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done.

13. Go on a cruise.
**2012.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
**Grade: A+ (Started.)

27. Ditto the sixth.
**Grade: A+ (Started)

28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
**Reshoot of Dueling Morons does not count as another completed film.

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Early December Musings

2011-12-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

Forgive me Father, for it has been more than a month since my last conf…blog entry detailing my life. So, the good news first. Contrary to rumors that you might have heard, I have, in fact, found a job. I am working as a contractor through Apex with GP. But most importantly, it is a Project Manager job, which means that there is an excellent chance that my days of being forced from contract to contract as human flotsam as a Technical Writer might be over. We shall see. The current position is supposed to be contract to hire, but no one seems entirely sure yet what this role will be. The good news though is that there is a lot of work, at least for a while, so spontaneous endings are less likely.

Having said that, with two layoffs in the same year, the extremely strong position I started in is almost entirely gone, which means that I’m probably taking Mom and Skip up on their offer to share living space with them for a while. It is slightly frustrating, to need to do that at 40 years of age, but they are being very accommodating and turning two rooms into what is essentially a mini apartment. Plus, since we’re in a depression, I should be grateful I just had a job, much less that I could find one quickly. The fact that it is in a field I enjoy and see great potential in, so much the better.

Still, changes need to take place. I am seriously pursuing two alternative lines of income so that I will always have money coming in regardless of my core employment situation. One is voice over work. I’ve taken lessons, bought equipment and recently acquired a manual. My goal is to start soliciting work by the end of January once I’ve finished the final elements of training. (I could look right now, but my equipment isn’t quite up to speed, and there are insider ‘tricks’ that I can learn so I’m not spinning my wheels thank you very much.) The second, ironically, is as a technical writer. Technically (pun intended), however, what I’m actually doing is emergency documentation of any kind, its just that the technical writing should consistently pay the best. The key here however, is that it is a moonlighting job that I control and will not depend on. It’s a business, not a career, and that makes a huge difference.

I have some other projects I’ll be starting next year on again, off again to make money, but these are what one might call “R&D” rather than the level of magnitude I’m working on with the above. One of the best perks of the new job is that I can start exercising again, but while I might be going back to Atlanta Kick, the Karate is going to be secondary to the Cross Fit. I’m hoping to start tomorrow. More details on that as it comes.

I also have some very interesting plans in general for next year, and I’m basing almost all of them around contingencies that do not depend on income. The writing is going well, and I’ve finished 5 of the 7 projects I have for the ‘wrap up’ of the Red Anvil Productions podcast. I’m doing another Podcast, but it will be Tossing Grenades at Windmills and primarily focus on promoting my novels, starting with my first which isn’t really (I think) Publication worthy but still worth doing something with, and the podcast seems the perfect venue for that. I haven’t given up on film, even if I am opening up on a new chapter of it. Still, life is interesting, and I’ve reforged bonds with old friends and made several new friends. This has been a difficult year, but not as hard as the last. The next is shaping up to be one of the best yet, and while I will be advancing my professional career, I also intend to do my best to make my 40th year one big party, since quite frankly I think I deserve one, and what else is there to life when you’re a bachelor with no immediate prospect of marriage or children? Having said that, who knows what the future will hold. I know all kinds of highly interesting roads are open before me, and I intend to explore them all.

Good luck and God Speed.

Status Update

2011-11-03T15:12:00.001-07:00

Things are going moderately well. Current major projects I'm working on are setting up to majorly revamp the Red Anvil podcast at the new year to begin to promote my writing more, finish the Unfood script, finish the final few works for the old podcast, set up the LLC for my 'emergency documentation' business, and setting up for voice overs.

The 'emergency documentation' business is basically an idea I had which Allison agreed was a good business model where I promote my skills as a tech writer at high rates when other writers (or more importantly their own people because they didn't hire one) screw up their documentation and they need it done in a short period of time. I'm fast, I'm skilled, and I operate well under pressure. Why am I doing this when I want to move out of tech writing you ask? Because this time I'll be the boss, and if a client lets me go in the middle of an agreed contract length, they'll still owe me the money. More importantly, it will be done as moonlight work in the background whilst I seek out Project Management work full time. I'm in control of it, not the other way around.

The voice over work has been piecemeal, learning what I need plus reviewing class notes. Should have my demo reel done this week (final obstacle is learning about a Mixer which for these purposes is not as hard as I would have thought.)

No major job leads yet, but I have been told I'm likely to have a phone interview early next week which is good. It also looks like I'm moving in with the folks at the end of the year. As soon as I get a years worth of PM experience in a contract I'll get the PMP and then I should be ready. If I get a perm job, I'll be working for 2-3 years which should greatly solidfy my resume and make things ready to move.

Solid plan in place. I'm quite sure something will get in the way to mess it up, but I'm flexible in thinking and good at getting up when knocked down. We'll see what happens.

Trip: Final Days

2011-10-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

The final three days were mainly a lot of driving with some hotel room staying. I mainly wanted to get home as quickly as I could, though the cough manifested itself at some inconvenient times, namely when I was trying to take a nap. Seattle seems like a very nice city, but it seems in some ways comparable to Atlanta, even though they are also obviously different in many ways. They're both quite pretty, and the people inside of both of them seem rather nice, but I didn't feel that connection like I did with Portland, and it is not like I talked in depth to anyone. Maybe its the architecture or something, or some intangible factor, who knows...

There was some drama with a lack of a phone connection, but I figured out how to connect to Roaming by modifying the settings on my phone...this when a call to tech support couldn't get the job done. I'm moderately proud of myself. Hooray, I'm Einstein....really. I am. :)

I've had a lot of time to think about things. Mainly, before I can go to Portland I need a sustainable career and income. And that means both Project Management and side streams. Voice Over work and maybe some other items. I'm going to get the ball rolling on that tomorrow.

I kind of went a little mad out there in the desert and the vast wilderness spaces out there. I'm going to be around people as much as possible during the next few days, and drive as little as I feel I can get away with. Got very little writing done but I need to finish my writing assignment for Push Push (both of them, Write Club and the sub plot for the script class, which is turning out to be hideously cool), I Fenris, a Review for ATL Retro, and then the script for Unfood. I'm expanding it to a feature. No, I doubt I can produce a feature, but we'll figure that out when I'm done with the script.

I feel better, more confident though it cost a lot. Fortunately, I'm getting help from my family. They are indeed very helpful to me, both in terms of material support and morale. I am glad I've occasionally been able to be there for them, and I am glad I appreciate them. It is also a reason I try to be there for others as well, because I know what it feels like when that support ISN'T there as well, at least for short durations.

Job search has several promising leads, up to three job interviews in the early part of next week if all goes well. I'll keep you posted.

Day 5 and 1rst half of Day 6

2011-10-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Wyoming: Despite my humor at Wyoming's expense, it is much prettier than I remembered as a child. Harsh winds make a harsh land. Lovely to see all of the windmill's. All kinds of windmills. All over the place. Lots and lots of windmills. And farms. And trucks. But mostly lots of rocks, piles of rocks and grass. I will say this for Wyoming though....I could get NPR EVERYWHERE crystal clear.

Idaho: Eastern Idaho is kinda blechier than I remembered. Western Idaho is more barren than I remembered but still absolutely lush farm country.

Utah: Say what you want about Mormons, if I wanna terraform a planet some day I'm hiring them. I've been in many western states, and Utah was greener and flusher than other places. They really did change that land. For the better in my opinion.

Oh, and I saw first bill board I'd ever seen for an adult club in Salt Lake at the edge of the state. Looks like the anti pornography campaign is having a limited effect.

Oregon: Most of it I saw in the dark. Lots of mountains. LOTS of mountains. Self serve gasoline exists only in Indian tribal areas. That's right. If you want you gambling fix or to fill your own gas tank go to the nearest reservation.

I don't need to see their library, because there is a veritable shrine to the God of Books in the middle of the city. HOLY @#$@#$$# COW! To sustain a book store of this size, the people of Portland must be among the most literate on the Earth, and you can tell, because the city WORKS. It is clean. It has a street car. It is having budget problems like everyone else, but you can sense the lack of corruption and cronyism that exists in Atlanta and even to a lesser degree that I could sense in Boulder. Boulder was very nice but you could ...feel...the occasional little petty projects here and there. Portland has homeless but they treat them well.

After reading the paper and how the police are treating the Occupy Portland folks as compared to other cities, it is OBVIOUS the people here care about others. It isn't perfect. There are still lots of homeless people but they are not shunned or herded or shamed away.

Corporations are here like everywhere else but they are TAMED and kept in their proper place. The signs are not garish and are blended in to the rest of their architecture. Religion is here but it is also TAMED and kept in its proper place. The christian who attempted to say he would pray for me was both respectful and had a tinge of not wanting to offend. I'm a Christian and while one should never be offended for one's belief's one should be ashamed at the reputation most Christians set...and here they have to because of the percentage of athiests and 'no religion' ists. Blatant abuse of society in the name of "God" is not tolerated here as it is in Atlanta.

Even hate radio was 'tame.' In the most rural parts of the state, the guy spent 5 minutes talking about the need for rational thinking courses and to be polite. Same message that is everywhere in the country about 'change agents' etc (though he obviously was one himself but whatever.)

And it has a streetcar!

The main problem I have now is that this week has been totally exhausting. I may have a solid lead, maybe even a job on day 1 upon return if an interview by phone goes well Monday....but I may not have the energy to return in 3 days. We'll see.

Regardless, I'm still pushing on to Seattle tomorrow.

I hope to have the energy to go out and mingle tonight.

The Rest of Day 4

2011-10-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

Wyoming.

Day 3 (2nd half) and Day 4

2011-10-13T10:57:00.001-07:00

I have arrived in Boulder. Let me tell you, if the character and atmosphere of the city were the qualifiers for what I was looking for, Boulder would be a very strong candidate indeed. I think the thumb nail version of what Boulder feels like is what would a city look like if the Hippies and the more benevolent Corporate Democrats came together.

My first experience with the city was a toll road that saved me thirty miles on my trip. But I didn't encounter a toll booth, I just drove into the city. I had to call my step dad and ask him to look up the max charge. Apparently they photo'd my licences and will bill me $6. I can live with that, but it seems a little sneaky...they made no bones about the fact that it was a toll road but how much they charge was ambiguous...

So the hotel I ended up picking was called The Root of the Mountain motel. It is basically a series of cabins created during the depression and kept in pretty good working order but its insanely close and within walking distance of the Pearl Street mall. And it is reasonably priced. Got into a nice conversation with the woman who checked me in about politics. She's from New Zealand. She told me to check out www.soverignman.com (or some such thing, I'll check that out later but it sounded interesting).

I was told to check out Old Chicago Pizza. It was indeed most awesome. Unfortunately due to illness I wasn't that hungry, so I only had one slice of the personal pan pizza. The pumpkin ale was...er...yeah. :) Cerveza de Calabaza no esta bien....at any rate, I ran into many interesting people at the mall. Including a guy playing a dijiourdo (that is not spelled right but my parking lasts an hour so I'm not going to look it up), a weird guitar player who had drawn a circle in the ground with tarot cards and was dressed as the Fool calling himself Ecoman who was trying to make songs to save the planet, a woman who was either on acid or (sadly more likely) schizophrenic and homeless that was politely ignored by everyone around her (I seemed to mildly freak her out by looking into her eyes, I guess she wasn't used to that), and a bunch of homeless(?) guys(vets?) who asked for my leftover pizza. One of them gave me a dufflebag belonging to Captain Howard G. Barak...I didn't ask one of them was he...since they all seemed a bit young to be captain and it seemed rude...so now I have someone's duffle bag and am not entirely sure what's appropriate to do with it...

At any rate, I decided to use the following criteria before I got wise (see below)

Women: A- This was going to be B namely because most of them were college age or stared at me like I was a Rapist until I went home and it was all dark. Very few street lights. At first I thoguht Boulder might be trying for the open skies initiative but then found out that they have outsourced streetlights to a corporation. Oh. Well that makes sense. Let me tell you, I am 6'5" and know Karate, plus I had a duffle bag I could use as a ...weapon or something. Sure I was breathing like I'd run 500 miles, but for 15 seconds I could wail on you like Frankenstein....only a Fast Angry Frankenstein and *I* was freaked out by how dark it was, I couldn't imagine how a woman on her own must feel....but the next day there were more women my age etc. So it rounds out.

Architecture: A+ Not only is it cool but there are VERY few corps in boulder, plus the ones that are here I like, like Steve Madden and Google (Google has an office in Downtown boulder, how cool is that?). Some weirdness though, like cookie cutter victorian houses...yes, that's right. Still, I like that kind of thing.

People: (Women count as people :) ) A-. Nice, friendly, helpful, open. I just didn't really 'connect' with anyone who wasn't either paid to be nice to me by serving me or that first woman I met from New Zealand. But this lack of connection is made up for by the fact that the people here are just COOL :) I like them....like the female owned groundskeeping people cleaning up outside of the library who have dogs and obviously love their job....they're like movie characters only better because they're real :)

Library: I judge a city most by its library. Boulder's library is a temple to light and knowledge. They have fish tanks and fully stocked shelves and internet kiosks and it is QUIET and there is sunlight and they have kindle functionality. In short, it is the way a library should be, and they have funding and it shows. The Decatur library used to be that way, but it is in decline.

Unfortunately, the most important qualifier...did I feel a sense of 'destiny' here?

Not really. :/ This would be a wonderful place to live, but that feeling I had before of 'meant to' in February didn't really click here.

More of Day 1 and Day 2

2011-10-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday Morning and I am feeling better. Thinking you're no longer sick and no longer being sick are two different things. I should not have traveled yesterday or Tuesday but then again, maybe I would not have gone? Who knows.....what I do know is that much of the trip is simply a blur.

Strangers have been very nice, particularly the people at the two hotels I have stayed at. Rather cheap places in the middle of nowhere that happened to be where I needed to stop. I have become obsessed of late with Bedbugs but a site I found that taught me how to look for them and how to minimize the potential impact they might have has made it possible for me to get a decent night's sleep in a hotel.

There is something wrong with the fact that you can hear Glenn Beck on FM radio in Western Missouri but not NPR...

In the same stretch of country I counted no less than 5 bill boards calling for the protection of unborn children, but only 3 dedicated towards Christian causes of any kind and none of them towards living children.

Mark 10:14 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

That isn't about the unborn, unless perhaps someone thinks that Christ wants to have embryo's delivered unto him? Even if you believe the unborn fall into that category, so do living children. And failure to work to protect living children while working for the unborn is criminal.

Of course, these same people argue that there are 'plenty' of such programs here or that they should be handled through the churches etc. But that's not what I saw in the billboards driving in their sacred territory. Instead what I saw was a bunch of hypocrisy.

Day 1 Bad Start

2011-10-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

So I woke this morning with a sore throat and feeling slightly week, but I think this was partly psychosomatic and also because I haven't been exercising enough. Just had a voice telephone interview for a developer position of all things. I let them know I'm not a developer but that I can use Openspan, which is a developer tool. That seems to be what they're looking for, so it might be a good fit. We'll see.

The good news is that whatever it is, seems mostly gone. The better news is that it isn't Strep, because that requires antibiotics and a doctor which I really don't want to deal with. Regardless, my hope is to be on the road in an hour and a half. It is unlikely I'll make it all the way to Colorado today but I'll keep you posted.

The Fork in Fate's Path

2011-10-09T04:08:00.000-07:00

So here I stand on the edge of the most important journey I will ever take, the day before. Do I have a destiny in the west or not? Comes a time where intuition must be tested, where you have to confront the universe and say, 'Did you mean it or not'? Just because something seems sure to you at the time (in this case being last Feb) and has stayed clear doesn't mean it shall always be so.

There are elements of such a direction I find appealing and elements I don't. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I wasn't. We shall see.

But as far as *I* am concerned, one way or another it will be resolved soon.

Under normal circumstances, 40 would just be a number like any other. Had I a stable life, or hope of one in the immediate future, I would ignore it and move on, but there are no promises only hints and shadows of what might be. I am proud of my accomplishments, but they were always viewed in the light of what might yet be. Now, every foundation upon which my expectations were built has been up ended.

New friends. New problems. New dreams. New Discoveries. New talents.

Here is what I do know. As of last Friday, I had a face to face meeting with a recruiter about tech writing jobs. It was hard to make myself go. Hard to take the test. I think I have at most one tech writing job left in me here in Atlanta. So either I move or the next is permanent or I have to take a project management job.

What I can't do is take job after job hoping the 'next one' leads to something different. My spirit will not let me do that.

So we'll see what happens. I will keep seeking the best way out of the maze.

Choose Ye This Day Where Ye Shall Go

2011-09-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

I lost my job today. They ended the contract at the worst possible time. My resources are low. Certain other matters are not quite as resolved as they need to be.

Two paths lay before me. There are, of course, many paths, but my recent unemployment experience has taught me that the BEST two paths are either

a) Pay a rather steep fine for canceling my lease and move back in with the folks. This will initially be expensive but save me a TON of money in monthly expenses, and this time it would not be for emotional reinforcement but financial stability.

This time I would only take a job as a PERMANENT project manager. Or I'd start my own damn company but no more tech writing and no more contracts.

But the price for doing this would be staying in Georgia...well, basically forever. At least for a very long time. I have been talking of moving for years and certain kinds of roots I have never put down because I have been wanting to leave for so long. No more. If I choose this route, I'm staying, and that means taking all the good and flaws that go with it.

Which also means all the baggage of my past mistakes.

b) Pay a rather steep fine for canceling my lease and move to another city. There would be no prep work, no scouting, no resource cushion, no job waiting, but the longer I wait, the less resources I have. And then take WHATEVER job I can find. Odds are I could get a job finding a tech writing job fairly fast.

I could move with the wind but I'm not doing that. I'd choose a city, and move there will little more than a wing and a prayer. Its risky but the pay off could be tremendous. A new start. All of my past mistakes and growing pains about becoming who I am would be gone.

The only baggage I'd have to deal with would be what I BROUGHT with me, and these days that's a LOT less than there was.

But its kind of nuts because my reserve is TINY compared to what it was the last time.

I'm not ready like I was last time. Not at all.

Are there more choices? Sure there are.

But I'm not a fan of taking them. I'm tired of this. I'm just tired of this nonsense living my life the way it is. I need SOME kind of a direction and while nothing is certain in life, what IS certain is that I'm sick of staying in Atlanta, and I'm sick of being a tech writer.

There are good things about Atlanta, and I could still make this place my home. There are livable things about being a tech writer and I could potentially eventually get a job in a different city.

At the moment, if you're reading this, a statement of support would do more than you might think. Thoughts on which path I should take would also be helpful.

We'll see what happens.

Regardless, whatever decision I make has to be made by Saturday. Tomorrow will be largely about gathering intelligence, and a lot of it, and very fast.

Nickled and Dimed to Death

2011-09-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

So Dragon Con.

It was the best of Cons, it was the Worst of Cons. I'm going to do something uncharacteristic and keep the details to myself. I learned a lot, but the lessons I learned are slightly difficult to explain...so I'll try to at least summarize it. I learned I like to dance. A lot. I learned that I love life, and that even though elements of my life quite frankly suck, and always will, that there is still a great deal of value in what I have, and what I have is quite frankly pretty cool, especially if I ever get a chance to get some inertia going.

I'm more focused now; three paths-Writing, Voice Acting, Project Management. Those are my careers and I plan to make money at them. Everything else is just a hobby. With writing its going to be screen writing, audio drama, and poetry first, with prose and other things a distance second. Technical writing will pay the bills when it must, but I have grown quite weary of it, and will leave it as soon as a I reasonably can.

Work is both stable and unstable. IE, situation normal. However, I'm being nickled and dimed to death with all kinds of minor expenses. Not enough to hurt, but enough to slow me down. All the more reason to press forward with plans for alternate sources of revenue so that contract or no, I'll always have a steady income. I have a wide range of talents (even if I don't have the one I want) and I plan to maximize their utility to the hilt.

It does mean I'm keeping my moving plans VERY flexible. Magic 8 ball says, "WTF?" at the moment :) Seriously, this is perhaps one of the most unclear moments of my life in terms of what might happen, but my attitude towards it is more sure, more focused and more stable than it has ever been. Its not that the things that suck don't bother me, I just...put it in perspective. That includes friends. I pretty much accept them for who they are, and what their limitations or strengths might be. I help them when I can, and ...don't...when I can't. :) Part of that means understanding what is or isn't a friendship as compared to say...an acquaintance. :) But I still maintain that it is better to treat an acquaintanceship as a friend than a friend as an acquaintanceship, just have no illusions as to what the actual situation might be.

We recently cleaned out the house of Doom. We are winning. All but two rooms are done. Tonight I start to read, "High Midnight" by Rob Mosca and write my treatise for my script writing class tomorrow.

Decisions

2011-08-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

So there is a line in "Real Genius" I like a lot where the main character meets Val Kilmer who says, "Hey. I missed me. So I told them, I want to have me when I was you as a room mate, and here you are."

So future me, through a combination of psychic....er....yeah psychicness in which I kind of took a lot of the past nonsense, plus some advice I've gotten recently plus anticipated problems and come to some conclusions.

1) I think focusing on one thing at a time is a good idea, but even professionals work one multiple projects but it is done in research, production and promotion phases.

So I'm refocus on the things I feel I do well, and work on developing the skills that I think need work. With writing that means improving my prose and sticking to my poetry.

2) After considering how hard finding an apartment was in a city I was *IN* I've decided that the odds of something going wrong are...well, with my luck extreme, so having a job is going to be very important, as well as having a sufficient amount of emergency capital on moving just in case.

3) So for practical purposes, I'm pretty sure one of the two final cities I'm look at are Portland or Seattle, but I have never been to either, so some time this December I'm going to go up and check them out. Now, if I'm between contracts, then I'll likely go up and then come back to Atlanta for another contract if that happens. On the other hand if I'm able to land a job then I might still move in January.

4) I need to ramp up my Voice Over, Freelance Tech Writing and Freelance Project Management efforts so I can use them between contracts.

Nothing earth shattering this week, though I did see the Silver Screen Spook Show last night which was fun. :)

Vacation Day 7&8

2011-08-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have ascended the mountain and come down with rainbows in a handkerchief, lightning and a mobius strip chain of paper clips.

I'm able to write this at the moment because my flight has been grounded an extra hour due to a thunderstorm in Atlanta. A fact that those of you in Atlanta are already probably aware. I am stuck in Houston. Ironically if I hadn't been seeing family just earlier this week I would have been tempted to arrange some kind of rendezvous during my lay over.

So I will start in reverse chronological order for the past two days and reminisce on the primary reason I went on this trip, the writer's program. Long story short, I bombed. At least, that's the way it was from a purely objective point of view. But its a lot more complicated than that. We reviewed the first story first, a riff on the Cthulu Mythos with a dash of the Hangover (weird but delightful) and one of our number was not there. So I went second. I was told that the idea was genius (I agree, tis one of the best I've had) but my craft was abominable. I've been told this before, but never in quite the same way.

Now, this is where it gets interesting boys and girls, because if this had happened three or four years ago I would have been devastated. If it had happened a year ago, I would have handled it stoically but ended the session as quickly as possible. But instead, I swallowed the sword and asked for more. I did not come to this just for a chance of networking. Sure, it is night for lightning to strike. It is nice to have someone read your work and think it so brilliant that they're going to put you in touch with their agent.

But there was another opportunity here, and because of the growth I've had in the last year I was able to take it. I had two professional writers and an experienced amateur tell me in precise and specific terms exactly WHY my craft was crap and I was able to ask specific questions about how to fix it.

And I've had one of those eureka paper clip moments. As in, a Paper clip is not like the light bulb. Its an idea that someone somewhere thought up if you could travel in time before the paper clip you could make one, patent it and sell it for a lot of money. I have always thought I wasn't a natural writer because I didn't have the passion of some that did, that I have always had to take a mechanistic method to my writing. And to be sure there is a component to that.

This might seem dumb, but I've never really thought about the nature of the writing as I write, I've just told the story. Honestly that's because that's how I read. I care about the story, what's happening, to whom and how. The other details are nice, but largely incidental. But MOST people do not read like that. They care about the craft of the writing in the story just as much as the story itself.

If that were the end of the story that would either be a time to give up or start from scratch, learning an entirely new skill. But wait...what if I had another skill that I could apply here...you know one that involved taking words and making them sing?

Like say...Poetry? Now simply 'poetifying' my writing of prose is a bit more complicated than it sounds. But its a start and it means that I have the artistic chops already for it. That's important, and as far as I'm half way there, and with my skill and practice in telling a good story at this point as far as I'm concerned that puts me 75% of the way there. As one of the professional authors put it, craft can be taught and learned. I just need to slow down and properly explain my ideas.

That I can do. So there is, at the last, a clear path to what I want. It will be a hell of a lot of work but I believe I can develop in a few years a high level professional talent such that I can earn a living doing this, and with that maybe the lever I've always been looking for at world class talent. Because really that's what I want...give me a lever large enough and I can move the world.

But that's another story...

Regardless, I have a direction, and I have a greater drive than I have ever had before. At this point in my life I have the perfect mix of passion for my craft and the maturity to detach myself from it and sacrifice what I must to make it great.

Two other interesting notes: They said it would make a great script or notes for a graphic novel....ie (I need to do more graphic novel scripts and script scripts) and another suggested that Unfood would make a good horror story. I think I have finally found my Boroughs moment....my Tarzan/John Carter of Mars is in the darkened lands of blood and darkness....but I also think that the whimsical side of myself demands that I try the other side as well. "Routine" science fiction and fantasy are not my strength and stock. We shall see.

So the other major objective on this trip was networking and well, to put it bluntly, my dating skills. Specifically, I need to learn how to approach, court and ask out women who are total strangers, since I don't have a ready pool from the single's ward any more and the world is my potential pool. Though I do have some thoughts on that for when I move to another city...communities are helpful and help us survive. LARPing and the indie film community are two activities (among others) that I will be actively engaging in when I move to my new host city.

Still, I did alright with networking. Basically I made about 5 really good contacts. I have not heard back from any of them and suspect I might not, but bearing in mind even talking to a stranger about this kind of thing before would have been largely beyond me or I wouldn't have followed up on it I mark that as progress. I have more to learn on this but I aim to keep practicing it and refining it.

I talked to probably 4-5 women for flirting/etc purposes. The fact that I'm able to even do that at all now also marks tremendous progress. The books I've read break the process up into 'phases' and I've got the first phase down..ish, but I'm still terrible at connecting. I think part of it is how alien a perspective I come from on a lot of things....initial contact is fine but I think they still sense nervousness or something. I'm calm myself but maybe its just lingering body language etc from before.

Practice makes perfect and I aim to keep hammering away.

So lets see...I did not engage in any gambling. Didn't see the point. I feel my metaphysical karma has better uses. And in a lot of ways I did indeed see it pay off in spades. I felt the true objectives I had on this trip were met and magnified a lot.

The Hugo Awards....seem really cool but the person who I was rooting for did not win. I've enjoyed these kinds of things in the past because I like to see how people who have worked so hard for something get recognition but seeing the other side of someone who I felt should have won not winning...well that soured the whole thing a little for me. Still, I liked World Con and the odds are pretty damn likely I'll be going to the one in Chicago next year. Though we'll have to see. I'm also seriously considering Burning Man and the Louvre is a life goal which trumps everything. That, plus a move puts an awful lot into one year. Then again, I have been able to do a lot in this year and...life is short. Live it while you can.

Saw a fascinating panel on Vampires, Zombies and Werewolves and (especially combined with the horror comment from the writing segment) I've decided to add a dash of magic to the Steam Punk/Alternate History Western I was looking to start writing next year. I'm going to wait on the Fantasy and the....I don't know what to call it until my 'craft' is more polished so I can focus on the stories I seem to be strongest at before revisiting the story element for entirely different lenses and genres.

Oh, did I mention I got to see George R.R. Martin commenting on one of the episodes of Game of Thrones whilst it was playing? It was rather cool to hear him compare the book to the show and I must say for the most part he seems quite pleased. Which I think is a good thing.

Sentinel Chronicles: TSC 3 premiered last night. It was awesome seeing it there. It had a lot of it that looked really good on the big screen and Jay was able to do a lot with what he had given the chaotic elements he had to work with. Some of the script I wrote shone through and some of the scenes that I did and some that I did not do were quite awesome. I'm glad I did it but I'm also glad I can take it with a grain of salt because the hand print of some others...wow. Let's just say that while Jay's work on this was obviously well done (and it was because quite frankly the music, timing, editing, fx and pacing were all fantastic) not all performances were created equal. I know who I would or wouldn't choose for another project if I was working on it, but I'll have to talk with Jay about that later. Obviously he doesn't share my opinion on everything and it is after all totally his project. :) And it was fun to do which is also something in and of itself. I'm still proud to have my name associated with it.

There was a panel on Dr. Who that...was a bit eye opening for me. I like the new series but they are right that Moffat has strengths that Davis did not have but conversely Davis had strengths that Moffat does not. More importantly there are some problems with the River Song story line that might break the series...a lot of good will was built up to now but if there is not enough pay off in the next series we might be looking at the end of the new Dr. Who....hopefully it won't come to that.

All for now.

Vacation - Day 6

2011-08-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

I got a slow start because my ribs are killing me. I did some research and appearantly in almost all cases there is little to be done for it except wait for it. However I know in my case if I don't work out I don't heal well so I VERY carefully used the weights. They have a fantanstic gym. It hurt a little but was mainly very exhausting because of the amount of caution I had to take not to aggravate that area. I took some tylenol and that helped.

Attended 3 panels. One was a memorial for Joanna Russ. She sounded rather cool and someone I need to read. The second was on 'Creating Gods' and I learned some interesting tidbits on how to do that. The third was on the economy of biology in space (which included Greg Bear) and was really cool. Then I went to a Dresden Files Larp. I did pretty kickass actually in my opinion.

After that I randomly wandered the parties. I will say only two things on that: One...having people you know with you as you go to parties makes a huge difference and two...despite glacial progress I am getting better at this. Slightly. Kind of. Otherwise what happens in Reno goes to Vegas and stays in Vegas...

Vacation - Day 5

2011-08-18T08:41:00.001-07:00

Awesomeness! So I had a friend at PlayItOn Con in Alabama that the one party I should try to get into was the SFWA party (Science Fiction Writers of America)....so basically got in by the most random of circumstances when I thought I wouldn't. I met a few people, and I still mostly suck at networking but who knows what might happen for the rest of the con.

I got up at an ungodly hour. Skip kindly drove me to the airport since the train only comes once an hour at that time of the morning. I made my flight, and it was boring but uneventful. I had a layover in Houston for an hour. I might have been tempted to call people and offer to meet them but really...I'd just seen them all a few days ago, there's hardly anything novel in seeing me now. :) (Whoo! It's uncle Tom for 20 minutes between flights...we haven't seen you for 2 whole days!) ;)

The flight to Reno from Houston was kind of aweful because I had middle seat in tiny tiny seat. There were women in their late fourties on either side of me who were also going to the con. It was awkaward at first because while I slept I accidently leaned on either of them at least once so then I just stayed awake but we becan talking. They were both very interesting people. One is here because of her husband and is German and the other is a children's librarian (like Julie used to be). Haven't seen them yet but I'm sure I will.

The Peppermill is an awesome hotel. If you want a romantic getaway and you're coming to Reno it seems to be the place to be. Later on after everything was done I did kind of wander through and explore and its...kind of dungeon like with lots of bright glittery lights and traps to take your money but it is also (like a d&d dungeon) laced random bits of coolness like bars, lounges and such. There was also this really sophisticated sports betting area that was totally empty. The unfortunate side effect is that it is also very filled with smoke...well, only a little but a little goes a long way. Still, the art on the walls is gorgeous, and I like the whole feel of the place. Staff are also exceedingly friendly. Atlantis, by contrast seems slightly more family friendly but just more...lame...somehow. It reminds me of a slightly degraded version of the resort from the Battle Star Galactica Pilot without the bee aliens...

So when I arrived my room wasn't available so I went to the convention center. I got my badge and scoped the place out. The dealer's room is VERY book friendly, and I think I'll have to get some while I am here. It's about the size of one of the two dragon con rooms but with just the same level of quality. However the entire con seems to have only 5-6000 people? (hard to say exactly.) Not any mega media celebrties (except perhaps George R.R. Martin at this point who I think qualifies in his own right) but lots of Sci Fi Writer heavy weights. They also have this cool thing called a Voodoo board which allows you to message people who are the con using old fashioned paper. There's a Jordan Ricks here but I'm not sure if he's cousin Jordan....problem with having a titanic family is you never know if someone with a name is or isn't your cousin. :) If there were 10000 living descendants of Thomas E. Ricks 20 years ago, by now there are likely what....50000?

So I got dinner. I went back to the apartment and got my room. Very nice. I went ahead and paid about $20 extra a night (since I'd already paid for everything back in Febuaray) to get the Peppermill Wing, and as I mentioned, its gorgeous. They have a nightclub here I want to go to at some point but I didn't bring the shoes for it, but buying a pair of shoes for a nightclub seems silly....but I might get a $20 pair or something of the Frankenstein shoes...We'll see.

People REALLY like the Cthulu Polo shirt I picked up at Dcon last year. I need to get 1-2 more this coming year. Tshirts are easy but business casual geek wear is harder to find especially if it is low key enough to wear in other settings.

Signed up for a Dresden Larp that will run today. I'm going to be a 'Hard Bitten Warden' by the name of Mercy Harlan. Should be awesome. My ribs are driving me nuts though. I slept on them and it is just going to suck until they heal. But I'm really enjoying the timezone shift...its noon EST and I'm still in my room but outside its only 9am....hehheheh. Awesome.

So I went to the 'meet and greet' for the writer's program and ran into a cool girl named Jasmin. We were both lost and found the party room together. We talked a lot. No, she has a boyfriend and she's 21. But thanks for the subconcious enthusiasm dear reader. ;) At any rate, we talked a lot but I also randomly ran into someone in her 'group' and introduced her to him. Then more conversation ensued. Then I started to work my way in to thank Oz (who is running the program and was my primary objective in going there because I wanted to thank her) we ran into Gregory who was also a writer and an interesting person and Jasmin, Gregory and I started talking. Eventually I made my way and found Oz and thanked her and then moved on to randomly sample the other parties. I'm getting better at navigating these things and talking to people but I've noticed I tend to do better if I give myself some secret mission. Maybe tonight I'll do something like, "Talk to five people, one of whom must be dressed like a pirate." We'll see.

So I randomly ran into Jasmin and Gregory again at another party. I talked with them. And Gregory was receiving a text from a friend of his and then he was going to go up to the SWFA party. So we all went. Well we went in just fine but it turns out that no member of SWFA had actually invited us (even though Gregory did no someone) so the person checking the badges (not actually at the door but apparently that was complicated) was concerned, so we were going to leave when someone who was a member vouched for us and we got to stay. Which...was really really cool, I just wish I had gotten the name of the guy who did it. :)

I did mention I suck at the networking thing right? But regardless, I made 3-4 contacts last night who may one day be famous or something. Given their personalities (since I haven't read their work) I can easily see it. I think networking is easier with peers rather than people who are 'above your station' as it were. At least for me.

At any rate...at some point I'm going to get out and do productive things. Ish.

Vacation Day 3&4

2011-08-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

So the first part of Day 3 I woke up and said goodbye to Greg and his family. Then Brett, Dad, Vivian and I went to have breakfast at the Egg and I, which was pretty good all things told. Then we went and hung out at Christy's where we played 20th anniversary Trivial pursuit. I left for home around 2:30pm CST. It was a pretty slow trip, and did not pass as fast as going up there in the first place did. Good radio music but I only got half a disc in for my PMP prep. Took a brief side trip to New Orleans to see if I liked the feel of the city. It was OK, but I didn't end up doing anything but stopping and eating at a Wendy's. As a result, I was several hours behind and so I had to stop in Alabama to get a hotel room.

The next morning I headed toward Atlanta, and still a slow trip. When I got to Atlanta, I picked up some new items to take with me on the plane trip but didn't stay there long. I visited a few of the more exotic shops in Atlanta that had always interested me that I'd never gone to (including a New Age book store and a 'Santeria' store near where Jennifer and I used to live) ending one of the last things in Atlanta itself that I'd always wanted to do but had not done. About the only two things left on that list are the Margaret Mitchell House and/or the Cyclorama and honestly at this point....yeah...probably not going to happen even if I find the time. Went to Mom and Skips and visited with them. Grandma is doing well. I cooked dinner (a bean and Pasta caserole.) We watched an episode of White Collar, Warehouse 13 and then Eureka. I then slept.

Vacation Day 2

2011-08-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

Morning was breakfast and a viewing of Tron: Legacy. I'll review that on the review blog later but it was a fun relaxing morning and enjoyed visiting with the family. Later, Rachelle served Ham Sandwiches which were excellent. Then they went to church and I was going to go to Randy's but he texted me that he wasn't hope yet. Ironically, I found out after the fact that it was Rachelle's first day on the organ, so I would have at least gone to the first part of sacrament meeting to hear her but didn't notice it, so I had time to kill, so I visited the old house. WOW how times have changed. The old neighborhood is almost unrecognizable. Almost all the stores are different. A lot of what used to be trees are gone and not replanted. The house itself has a fence around it though it looks largely the same.

The Hilo auto parts I used to work at has a Star Bucks. I was bored so I tried a cup of coffee. My first, and it was moderately good but needed sugar. I chilled and read my android and then went to hang out with Randy and Jaime and their children for a few hours before the rest of the family came and visited. It was quite good. Randy cooks a mean shredded brisket/chicken/ribs and Jaime has le kickass Chocolate and strawberry crispy treats. This went on for several hours. Got to remeet Jaime's mom and one of her brothers and then we hung out after and talked a lot catching up on things. Days go by quickly. Need to spend more time here next time I come here to visit.

First Day of Vacation

2011-08-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

I drove through the middle of the night, listening to a preparation tape for taking the PMP, the radio (there is some excellent music of every kind and description in Atlanta) and Elvis. Arrived without incident in Houston early in the morning. Full house. Nice breakfast and a low key lunch. We played a card game called Bohnanza. Dad and Vivian seemed to be doing well, and we talked and hung out.

Around 3:30pm we went to Christy and Simon's house. Everyone but Julie and Todd were there. It was chaotic but very fun. Didn't get to spend time with the nieces and nephews but they spent a lot of time with each other. Poor Soren seems a bit young for the rest but was following them a lot. I did get to see Brett for the first time in two years. He seems a little tanner, a little wiser, but much more of himself than I expected. He's himself, but more secure in who he is which I think is a good thing. Jenny and Destry seem to be doing well. Fiona is as beautiful as all the gushing on facebook made her out to be. More motherhood suites Jenny well.

Simon cooked some excellent Hotdogs and there was a meal that went very well. People hung out a lot at the pool. Should have brought a swim suit. They finished shooting most of the bits of "The Rixlars". I had...like 4 lines, but I hammed those lines up really well. Due to complications, a few things had to be reshot, and my character basically thought he owned the planet and then challenged the Rixlars when they arrived and said, "Mine!" And then Jaime said, "Uh no. Charge!" And then my character ran.

I now believe Big T is either the biggest idiot in the universe or a total mastermind, but either way it screams for a sequel. There was ice cream and much interesting conversation. Destry thinks I should consider government work and potentially with the county in New Mexico. New Mexico is a state I could live so maybe. Not at the top of the list of my current potential destinations but having family near would be nice, and I loved New Mexico the last time I went.

Overall, people seem to be doing very well, which is a good thing. I am glad that for once emergencies seem to be kept at least under control. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Mostly an Improvement

2011-08-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

I think things will be rather interesting as my parents celebrate their 20th year anniversary this month on the 23rd. I still fondly remember being a total idiot standing on a rock when we first met Skip and shouting Echo into the park as loud as I could. I fondly remember this because I was 18 and a total twit. I fondly remember it because I'm not the person any more....much. ;)

I've had some very positive experiences over the last few weeks. I'm writing, though I'm spending more time blogging than writing fiction, still I'm easily going to meet my first goal for the year and probably the second. I'm enjoying a wide variety of social activities including hanging with friends, playoncon etc. Still, dating is not as strong now as it was earlier, but I almost wonder if some of that is internal given my rather firm plans to leave Atlanta after this contract is done.

The job goes well. Kind of slower than I'd like but honestly I'd never be happy unless I was slammed every minute of every day. There is a kind of rush to solving problems I truly enjoy, and I'm pretty good under pressure. No, strike that, I'm excellent under almost any kind of pressure. And I'm a lot better than I was before, which wasn't too bad.

I've had a few situations I'm not going to mention turn out rather well, and I have a lot of hope in others. Basically life is going very well. Not perfectly. Not without risks, but on the whole very well. Going to visit family this weekend in Houston. It should be interesting since I'm playing "Big T" the villian in the family movie. He's a bit cliche, but the Villain is the one who makes the story move. :) Plus this is a family renunion movie, not Citizen Kane. I'm also thoroughly impressed by my niece Melanie who wrote the script.

When I was a year younger I wrote a script I sent to Spielberg. I'm sure I've got it buried somewhere, but the thing that always stands out in my mind is this:

EXT: Kids ride up on bikes to a large statue holding a sword.

Kid #1: Wow, how'd that get there?

Kid #2: It wasn't there before.

Tom: I wonder if there is a way inside?

Yes, that's right. I put myself into my own damned script. Some day (maybe in a year or two) if I feel I'm getting too full of myself I'll find it and dust it off, and have it performed for the podcast in a whole new demonstration of awfulness.

None of which was in Melanie's script, and more importantly there were over 20+ characters that have rather rolls in it. And its a rather clever premise too. I'll post the link on youtube when its ready. It will also be great to see Brett after he's been gone for two years. It will be interesting seeing a recently returned missionary from my current perspective.

Let's see... I earned my Green Belt. I am quite pleased of that accomplishment. Speaking of Movies, I've finally finished and posted the reshoot of Dueling Morons. Took FOREVER mainly due to a rather anemic and sickly computer which Greg fixed. I still need to rerender tomorrow to include a credit I missed/did not have in the first pass. It has some glitches so I doubt I'll be submitting it to film festivals, though we'll see. Maybe.

On the Job

2011-07-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a hell of a month. So the new job is working well. Its been a slow start but things are starting to finally pick up, which is good. In a contract I am always pleased when I have stuff to do, because that means that there is work, and while there is work, I get paid.  I have some concerns still that it will end early, but I’ll have a better idea what the actual length of the contract will be as compared to what I’ve been told it will be in about two weeks. I’ve heard all different kinds of estimates, from the end of the year to march to perm to hire. But I know that while they want to hire more people they are generally understaffed for perm employees, but this project is so huge they’ve had to bring on contractors. One of my four bosses (yes….four bosses.  ) really likes my BA and PM work and wants to expand my work but not at the expense of the existing BA. The existing BA is a solid guy and will be the one setting my day to day schedule. He is slammed on a regular basis so I might get some more BA work as well which would be helpful. If I have BA or PM work in addition to Tech Writing work, there is no doubt in my mind that I’ll be able to be in this contract until March of next year. Otherwise, I suspect it will last until November.

Which segues nicely into my ‘long term plans.’ A solid perm job is something I don’t want to turn down if it comes up, despite my desires to move to the West, but I honestly just don’t see that possibility here. I’d like it to be such, but I’m not holding my breath. I do, however see the strong possibility of some absolutely excellent references. I had lunch with another of my bosses, who gave me absolutely vital information on the PMP. My current priority is to rebuild my reserve such that if the contract ends, then I can move instantly. By my estimates, especially with several imminent expenses coming up in the next two weeks, that’s going to be the end of October. After that, I’m going to start gunning for the PMP which it looks like I can take. I am still firmly committed to trying to achieve my goal to take the PMP this year, it’s just looking like it will be in December. I’m studying for it now just in case.

Had an excellent date last weekend. It was only a first date but I’d like there to be a second. She has a daughter home for the summer so they’re out of town this weekend. I’m out of town the weekend after that so this might be a situation where there is chemistry but the timing doesn’t work out. I’ll try a weekday next week maybe but we’ll see.

I have been formally approved to take my Green Belt tomorrow. I am very psyched. First of all because I’ve worked my ass off for this, and second of all because it is one of my life goals, the ‘big’ ones, and the green belt is the threshold I set for matched success. I like these guys enough that I’m probably going to at least finish out the year though I have already decided I am not doing this for another FIVE YEARS to become a black belt. Still, I have learned a lot and it is great fitness.
Writing is going exceptionally well. I’m meeting my goal of writing a thousand words a day. I’ve finished several stories this year. I’m having a short story that’s been chosen for a widely heard podcast called “Smoke and Mirrors” tomorrow night (I’ll post the link tomorrow). I’ve also been selected for the World Con writer’s track and I’ll have some professional writer’s helping evaluate my fiction. Finally, the feature film I wrote the script for, “The Sentinel Chronicles: Dawn of the Apocalypse” has been finished and will be airing soon. I’m looking for two or three more web series to write for as well since I’ve decided I really like that. I’m going to write a short film script (sci fi) based on the short story that was accepted to World Con’s writer’s track and also a feature film based on….???? But it will be set in the ‘real world’ though beyond that I don’t know.

Mid Year Goal Check

2011-07-01T11:50:00.001-07:00

As is my relatively new annual tradition, I check the progress of my goals in the middle of the year. Let's see how we're doing.

Goals for 2011.

Social

Make One Person As Happy As Possible (Besides Myself)

**Grade: A+ (And that's all I'll say about that....)

Visit with the Family at least once (likely to be the Family Reunion)

**Grade: A+ (Because I'm doing it twice....)

Spend Quality Time with Friends at least Twice a Month

**Grade: A+ (Excellent friends and spending plenty of time with them. Getting out of the house more than ever.)

Do a Good Turn Monthly

**Grade: A (Room for improvement here.)

Initiate Social Activities at least once a Quarter (Group Dates do not count for this)

**Grade: A (Attendance could be better for this...would be better if I had a house but its slowly progressing. Still technically fulfilled)

Career (New but Needed Category) (AKA "The 4th Life")

Gain a Stable Permanent Job I Like To Do That Pays Well

**Grade: C (A for Effort, F for results....since I'll be in the contract until the end of the year, BUT for a contract it looks to be quite fun)

Set up a consulting business for side Project Management Work

**Grade: Incomplete. Year's still out on this one but I hope to start this month or next month on it.

Continue Project Chrysalis with Mythic Imagination Institute

**Grade: B+ (I am no longer in charge of Project Chrysalis but I am doing Project Peabody for them and its going gangbusters)

Take the PRP in June 2011

**Grade: C (There is still hope of turning this into an A. There is a guy in my new contract who will help a lot with this but it turns out volunteer experience does NOT count towards getting your PMP...)

3rd Life

My Project: Project Dance Of Joy (Film)

**Grade: A+ (Re: As cover for party.....heheheheheh...I love it when a plan comes together.)

**Grade: F (The actual film went over like a lead balloon but I'm doing another later this year...)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Pi Project Management and Writing

**Grade: B (Went well mostly but then having half the actors diss me and go off the rails makes this a Not A....of course learning that Poison was sabotaging everything didn't help....)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel 4.0 Project Management and Writing

**Grade: Incomplete. Factors external to my control determined this.

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Podcast

**Grade: Incomplete. Factors external to my control determined this.

Learn To Edit

**Grade: B (My computer died but I have it back now)

Finish Editing Dueling Morons

**Grade: B- (I had a nearly working copy but lost it. Now I have a chance to turn this into an A by the end of the year)

2nd Life

Write 75000 words

**1/2 done. Grade: A (including certain game related writing.)

*Increasing this goal to 180000 words before the end of the year. I can write a lot more than this and should.

Decide if I like the 5th novel by the 15th of Jan. If not start another by Feb 1. If not then 5 Short Stories + 1 Feature Length Film

**Grade: A

*3 Short stories written, no feature film written but that can be rectified by the end of the year.

Finish the Graphic Novel (Est 5000 more words)

**Grade: A+ Finished. Working on draft.

Affiliated Project: Maintain at least 90% post rate on Nerdgasm

**Grade: B. I quit half way through due to time issues but completed whilst I was doing it.

Help at least 3 people with their writing, either to start or to help them edit.

**Grade: B+. I made an excellent effort but cooperation was required on this one and I rarely got it. People lead busy lives.

1rst Life - Retired.

Publish T7 Project (Now mostly done.)

**Grade: C- (A+++ for effort, F for results. Not QUITE dead yet but this may well be a failure by the end of the year)

Physical

Get at least 3 more belts in Karate

**2 belts achieved. On track for third.

Decide then: Either 2 (5 total) belts in Karate OR Start a New Martial Arts OR Start Yoga

**Grade: Not yet relevant.

Continue Weight Training OR Start Cross Training OR Start Free Weights

**Grade: B. Free weights. I'm averaging 1.5 times a week. Room for improvement.

Cardio 2 additional times per week

**Grade: B. Hiking once a week plus walking. Room for improvement.

Mental

Read 12 Non Fiction Books

**Grade: B- (Time to improve but only 4 read so far. Behind.)

Read 12 Non Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction (at least 2 of which should be classics)

**Grade: B- (3 read so far. No classics.)

Read 12 Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction

**Grade: A (And with the Hugo package easily done.)

Do Something to improve my creativity (?????)

**Grade: A

Learn a New Skill

**Grade: N/A (hope to pick up in August)

Spiritual

Read at least one major religious text of a religion that is not my own that I have not read before.

**Grade: B (Not major but spiritual. Hope to complete by the end of the year.)

Meditate/Pray at least 3 times a week

**Grade: A

Emotional
Be More Generous

**Grade: A
Be More Kind

**Grade: A

Stop Talking about Dark Things

**Grade: B+

Withdraw From Politics as Much as Reasonably Possible

**Grade: B

Incidental

*Go to Gencon OR San Diego Comicon OR World Con OR Dragon Con

**Grade: A+ (2 out of 3 is excellent here.)

*Go on at least 6 'weekend' trips, ideally at least one per month.

**Grade: A+ (3 done so far.)

*Go to NYC for at least 3 days (will count as one of the above trips)

**Grade: F (Not done so far....still time but looking less likely....)

*Make CONCRETE plans to go to France in 2012 (or 2011 if realistically possible)

**Grade: C (Time to finish but looking less likely....but due to factors not of my own making)

*Spend at least 20 hours at the range improving either pistol OR rifle OR shot gun skills.

**Grade: F. Haven't been to the range at all.

*Obtain the Following: A decent couch, a gaming console of some kind (likely a Wii), 10 DVD's for my permanent collection, a piece of original art and something to advance one of my other goals in a meaningful way.

**Grade: A (Just need 5 more DVD's to complete this...)

*Do at least one major good deed entirely anonymously. (Besides acknowledging completion of the goal in the assessment)

**Grade: C

*Finish the Graphic Novel script and work with Liz to edit as needed.

**Grade: A

*Finish the 4th Novel with Ken and help him market it as needed.

**Grade: A- (not finished with the final edit, but I've finished all my received chapters and we're marketing it...)

Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2011-2013.

2. Travel around the world on a way way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Partially done. 3 more belts will qualify as 'done.' 2011.

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
**Slated 2012.

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a succesful business.

"Start" in 2011-2012. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Nearly completed. Honestly the draft as is is good enough to call this complete, but I want to be sure.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done.

13. Go on a cruise.
**2012.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
**Have some ideas on this.

27. Ditto the sixth.

28. Ditto the seventh.

47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
**Reshoot of Dueling Morons does not count as another completed film.

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Employment and other situations

2011-06-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

I have a job. It is a 6-9 month technical writing contract with the Weather Channel. I start on the 5th of July. The interview went well but I had to do a 'homework' assignment, which was kind of a pain because it took six hours to do, but I had do do it that way because I did not know how much time the other guy was going to spend on his. It got me the job and at the least is useful for a portfolio piece. Plus if someone else gets a similar idea I can say, "Well I can do that, but before I do, lookit this, I did it in six hours." I had people help me review it and it was very helpful. Having good friends is very helpful indeed.

I am hoping to restart my podcast this Thursday night, we'll see if I'm successful. I am also trying to get as many goals as I can done before my mid year goal assessment. So far I'm doing pretty well with most of them, having really only dropped the seven timelines goal...and I keep considering taking that one up again. Maybe.

For various reasons, including the fact that I'm employed now, I'm trying to get the most out of live, using my car to go to many events and friends. I've been going to weekly game night with Eisen, weekly poker night at Patrick's and I'll be starting a weekly campaign with Russel. I'm still in Karate though I'm a bit behind but can still make my goal of getting a green belt this cycle. I like it a lot but I'll make an assessment at the end of July to keep doing that, go to another Martial art or do Yoga. I do like the people at Atlanta Kick A LOT and they're fun and good teachers.

This weekend I also went to a Midsummer festival, which was quite fun. Met Eisen and Will there at random, which was more fun. I got a few extra articles for a leather armorish thing I bought at Dragoncon. Its currently my facebook picture and it looks awesome. Though speaking of Dragoncon, now that I'm staying in Atlanta, I need to see if I can get a ticket. Weird things are going on on the website, but I will call them tomorrow and find out what's up. $120....wow. Should have bought my tickets on the cheap last year at the end of the con. I'm looking forward to World Con in August even though because I'm starting a new job it is limiting the days I can ask for off to be with Dad and Brett as they visit Houston. But I should at least be able to visit there for a weekend. That, and the world con tickets were purchased months ago and are non refundable :/

Last weekend, I took Skip to Father's day dinner at the Raging Burrito. It went well. Also went on a day hike with Russell, Amelia, Alex, Claire, Sean and Will and it was 2.5 miles either way. Trying to go on Russell's weekly hikes more. Karate keeps me in shape but I need to do more cardio and more weigh lifting. I'm still hopeful to make my goal of weighing 250 by the end of the summer.

Writing is going well. Writing my first non sci fi short story (not written in HS) and its turning out quite well. I still need to write the novel summary for Novel 4 (a decent one that is.)

The Best Summer Ever. The Worst Summer Ever.

2011-06-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

So for me I think my 'best summer ever' was probably the summer of 96 which actually kind of started horrible and had some horrible things happen in it but was still awesome. I was desperate to get a job that paid more than minimum wage, so I signed up with some room mates to sell crazy pest control contracts in San Francisco...only I didn't pass the 'sales personality' test, BUT the owner's cousin was one of my room mates (Gosh those guys were fun and cool, miss em...at any rate...) so they gave me a job as a technician with the caveat that I drive a truck. OK. I'd driven...like....5 years ago when I was 16 and took that class in High school....

Oh wait? Trucks a Clutch?

So I spend a month and a half driving around San Fran with the BROTHER of the owner who is this other cool guy, killing bugs, learning to drive a clutch, listening to radio disney between gigs, running crazy 14 hour days and having a blast.

First day out on my own I crash the truck (though in my defense it was old and the brakes suck....)....

Job over.

I came to Houston in utter shame and defeat, expecting to find another min wage job. Even Hilo auto parts wasn't hiring... (my boss there was cool even if the pay was not good).

Then Mom and Skip invited me to live with them for the summer and see if I could get a job.

You know...during the Olympics? Being a security guard for NBC Sports during the Olympics was awesome. :) In retrospect I should have used my ability to see more events like everyone else, but...oh well.

I also worked for a brief stint at Coca Cola which was also neat because I learned about working in an office, and the importance of branding.

So while I had less money than I'd hoped to earn, I got to do a LOT of cool things.

Is it possible to top that summer?

Dunno.

My deal with myself (I do things like that, the price of living too much in your own head) was that if the last two days went well this would be a positive blog, and if it went negatively, it would be a negative blog.

Its...complicated instead.

The job search is....well to put it bluntly I'll say 'not well', but 'not awful'. Having as many interviews as I've had and STILL no job is a bad sign. It makes me question the wisdom of my project management decision, if for no other reason than I'm stuck between worlds, and had I been at my last job another year I'd be in a much better position....I am tempted to strip all reference to Project Management at ALL from my resume and just search as a tech writer...but then I'm stuck in the same loop/dead end I've been for the last 12 years....

(sigh)

But I'm still getting calls from recruiters, even if most of them are for PM/BA positions that require another 2-3 years of experience than I have, so if somehow I can get more PM work then in 2-3 years I'll be sitting pretty with a solid stable career...

But...then there are other dark clouds on the horizon. I know some of my readers hate it when I'm cryptic, but in this case I have damn good reason to be. And these are pretty darn black clouds...life altering in fact.

But....I can't make the entire blog negative. Not entirely. Went back to Karate for the first time in 2 weeks yesterday. I'm just starting but I enjoy it greatly. People there are fun. Atlanta Kick = Teh Awesome.

Mythic Imagination Institute meeting tonight also went well. I'm glad I've met these people and wish I'd listened to Andrew and Bill earlier when talking about them....but I learn most things the hard way and slowly....at least things that matter.

Tuesday was a kickass day where I got a LOT done including sending out Novel 4 to 5 agents, realized I need to do a much better job with synopsis, realized I only tried to sell Novel 3 to 5 agents (ie not at all) so I should start selling it and Novel 2 all the more.....My failure to write a decent initial synopsis for Novel 4 is in my opinion a GOOD thing because it means I can learn and write good synopsis for Novels 2 AND 3 (even if...honestly they will still be much harder to sell...) (I'm not touching Novel 1 with a ten foot pole...if you want an acid trip induced purely by text, feel free to message me and I'll send a copy.) This shows the advantage of writing with a coauthor (for novel 4). Ken pointed out things I needed to fix in the synopsis.

Also today the sludge of damoclese (name coined by Mom) has been removed meaning people can start cleaning Grandma's house again. Also resolved a water issue Grandma was worried about. (The neighbor is a cool guy.)

All for now. More to come.

Good Times

2011-05-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

I don't have a job yet, but last Monday I had about four good leads pop up out of nowhere. Given how sparse the previous two weeks had been this was most welcome news. I had a face to face interview last Friday that seemed to go pretty well (I wasn't hired on the spot but I got the implication that a decision will be made soon) and I have a phone interview tomorrow and a face to face interview on Thursday, as well as two more recruiters that plan on talking to me tomorrow or very soon. I have what I call a 'recruiter' interview tomorrow in the afternoon.

Creatively speaking I've been able to make some progress but hardly a well of outpouring. I'm on the last chapter of the graphic novel, and while I had writer's block on it for a good chunk of last week I've slowly been able to make progress. I've also been working with Ken on the revision of the fourth novel. I've started my first 'non sci fi' story in many years, and its kind of fun but I'm not churning out pages. Last Tuesday was the two month anniversary since I was laid off, but fortunately a nice 'thank you' dinner from Allison (details classified) and a boy's night out at the bar with Russell were a rather welcome distraction.

I saw Thor on Thursday. It was pretty good. I do think it is more enjoyable if you know the comic and some of the things that are supposed to be going on in the background, but I think it would still be enjoyable regardless if you're a huge comic fan. Friday night I got my Advanced Gold belt. My goal is to at least get my green belt, which means next cycle I'll need to decide if I'm going to continue that or start taking Yoga. Both are incredibly beneficial. I'll make a decision soon.

I have been able to reconnect with a friend that I was previously estranged with, and I've made yet more insightful decisions. One of which is, some details and lessons are best kept private. :)

Viewpoint Matters

2011-05-04T04:38:00.000-07:00

So I've been acting deliriously happy for the last six weeks relative to my situation. There are lots of reasons for this and lots of lessons learned but here is the cliff notes version: Unless you are attempting to generate sympathy, moaning about the situation helps nothing, and you'd be wise to save those moments for when you truly need them....kind of like some people are reluctant to take Aspirin in too great a dose....and in truth, there is wisdom in this...I should know, because I took too much last October and the ringing still occasionally flits around my ears. ;)

I think the most valuable lesson I've learned is that our perspective really is subjective. You've heard that before, but its true. Its basically a matter of trying to construct your own reality, your own values and your own perceptions, while at the same time maintaining a grounded understanding of what is true for everyone else. For me in practical terms it means taking delight in the little things around me, making plans about what I might do that are bigger than the sky, and also small enough that I'll be able to do them no matter what my circumstance, and setting goals that I can achieve. I've been doing that for a long long time but I never realized how important it was. Of course I know about the subjective truth of things...but from an objective perspective I'm also working my ass off to find a job. In truth its the hardest job I have or ever do because it never really ends. You can always be doing more, and even more frustrating because most jobs come from a post to a job board that takes about two seconds to update a week by hitting the refresh button, meanwhile the task that I take hours and hours each day performing, sending out resumes, almost always accomplishing nothing....except, of course, giving me something to show for my efforts plus ten percent of recruiter calls actually DO come from placed resumes. Little lessons are learned each time this happens to me. :)

Small victories:

I'm getting my advanced yellow belt next week. (Exercize in dark situations is HUGE!)

I've lost 13 pounds in 6 weeks.

I've managed to shave about 60-70% off of my monthly budget by saving things in little ways....(Thanks Skip for the idea of storing all my public storage space in my closet!)

I've decided that playing role playing games is actually cool.

I have only had a mental break down once in the last two months...(For being unemployed, that's pretty good...trust me :) )

I've written two stories and have ideas for two more. And I'm well on my way toward keeping almost all of my yearly goals.

I've healed a friendship I thought was lost.

I've forgiven what I didn't have to forgive (not related to the above.)

I've been a force for good in at least 5 people's lives.

I've made the world a better place.

I successfully initiated Project Fluffy. (Nope, sorry that part is for me to know :) )

I've run several successful games online and had my favorite mush accept an interdimensional @#$@#$# bus driver...I mean, how awesome is that? :)

I've discovered and watched some rather remarkable movies and television shows and books...and grocked them rather well.

I've invented at least 4 different new ways to improve my job search so that its now more efficient than its ever been....my confidence remains high, such that even the most cynical part of me is forced to grudgingly admit minor possibility that things might somehow work out.

I know where I'm going with my life.

I also have at least two very solid leads on how to get what I most want.

I also have a rather solid and realistic plan to get what I most want after that, even if I don't get Plan A.

Aside from that....life is swell. TTYL.

The Eye of the Storm

2011-04-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

So as of today it has officially been 4 weeks since I was laid off. This is the middle point of my self granted two months of looking for a Project Manager job before I just started looking for 'whatever' job I could to pay for the bills. I'm actually trying to be a little more flexible than that, in that I'll take Technical Writing jobs that will still give me project experience towards getting my PMP. So far the hunt goes...moderate. The market is clearly very strong, and I'm getting at least one call a day from recruiters, but since I'm transitioning, I'm not in as strong a position as I was before. A year of PM experience + 10 years tech writing experience does not command as strong a position as 12 years of Tech writing experience. But it is worth it, because there are, in fact, many MANY more positions out there asking for 5 years PM experience than there are tech writing jobs of any kind.

Morale has been good for the most part. I'm not as disciplined as I'd like to be. A job helps me keep an organized schedule, and I thrive under pressure. Without that external pressure (besides 'find a job'), I have to force myself to have structure, which is energy that takes away from other things. I'm getting some creative work done, but not at my full capacity. I'm thinking about tricks around it, we'll see what I can do.

I will not be able to get the PMP this year. The good news is that my education credits do not expire. The bad news is that all of my volunteer experience counts for nothing. It has to be paid corporate experience, so my motivation to start side businesses, officially registered as corporations has gone up dramatically. I need 2500 more hours to qualify, and I'd like to take it next year. That way even if I do take a tech writing job, I can still get my PMP, which is HUGE in terms of getting a PM job.

Last weekend was fun. We cleaned the house of doom with Mom, Skip, Grandma and I, along with three friends (Claire, Russell, and Will) and a woman mom found on the ATML. She is a production assistant and I told her she should talk to Mom for networking possibilities. The house looks a LOT better, but some minor complications arose from things we discovered in the house. Some specialists will need to be consulted but I'm hoping to go back in early June or late May. Two more times and it should be pretty much 'done' to the point that we might be able to start trying to sell it. I really want to finish this before I leave Atlanta. I also saw a concert at Wild Bills from Riff Raff. Low cost cover charge. Sunday I took up an invite from another friend of mine (Daniel Hollinger) to the Ren Fest. It was fun. There were a lot of people there. I bought a wooden cup that I might photo along with the leather vest I bought at dragon con and finished paying for a week before I got laid off. :)

Last week Mom and I also went to see Hannah. It was pretty fun. We both enjoyed it.

All for now.

And now the fun starts

2011-04-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

So...the whole lemons and lemonades bit...

If you'd asked me that question six months ago, I would have taken a large metal object and shoved it where the sun doesn't shine. But I'm learning.

The truth of that saying isn't that you should be gleefully denying of reality, because that's just dumb and hurts not only yourself but people around you (in fact I'm coming to believe that a significant amount of the world's misery if not all of it comes from lies that people tell themselves that they want to be true) but at the same time understanding that things are subjective, not objective.

Who determines the meaning of my life? Well, in some ways everyone. But in the most important way its me. One of the best games I ever played was a game I was truly far behind in, and made up my own side quest. The game in question is called, appropriately enough, Junta, in which all of the players are members of the elite families and cabinet. The goal of the game is to steal as much money for your swiss bank account as possible. It became readily apparent early on due to random chance that I couldn't win, so I decided not to be president. Normally you WANT to be president in that game, because it allows you to steal the most money but sometimes it also makes you a big target. So through all kinds of bizarre politics people wanted to foist it on me and I refuse. I had a blast.

My point is that I have felt a need for quite some time to grow emotionally. And I have felt that I would never be able to do so in the amount of time I wanted. Well, now I can turn the joke that is the script of my life into an opportunity. I can react in a cool way instead of have a nervous break down about it.

This is not, unlike Hollywood movies going to make me somehow successful. I don't have a script writer. Trust me, as a writer I would know this. There are certain signs. The lack of exploding cars is a one of them.

This small attitude change isn't going to change my life in any significant way, but it will make it more enjoyable. And ultimately, that's what life is about. Enjoying what you have the best you can as much as you are able without being miserable about it.

So am I going to still want things I can't have and strive for the impossible? Absolutely. Because that's me. That's the theme of my life. Comically attempting stupidly impossible things and getting routinely crushed for it my running gag. If anything, I may begin to try even more outrageously impossible things for my own amusement.

At any rate...on to more practical matters.

Job Search = Teh Suck. A few leads, mainly due to Miles, a rather kick ass recruiter referred to me by Skip, but nothing major. The plan is to go another 6 weeks trying to find a BA job, then spend 3 months trying to find a tech writer job, then move out West. Where? Dunno. But I've been meaning to move for some time...and unless I get a job here, I will go out there. Its one of the things I figured out in my last trip to Cartersville.

I'm doing two things much differently this time. I'm paying for monthly membership in a freelancer site to see if I can get some work that way. And I'm networking more. Neither has yielded results but it will be amusing to try.

Let's see...what else? Graphic novel is on Chapter 5. Novel 4 is in editing stages. Seven Timelines is ready for kickstarter when Kitten gets better to give me the presentation....

I am going to try to write a short story a week, starting with finishing Unfood this week. Every other story will be set in the real world...ish. I want to try being a 'real' writer for a while to see how it feels. I'm resuming board gaming. I have decided that I gain no practical benefit from not playing rpg's but I'm still burned out on them. Go figure.

Life goes on. Vaya con Dios.

The Last of the Lingering Questions Resolved

2011-03-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

To be honest the last few weeks have been difficult. I have learned that the significant other of a friend was monitoring our email conversations. When I confronted her about it, she was not only not apologetic but manipulatively tried to turn me on my friend. Upon learning the level of duplicity this person was capable of, I came to the realization she might have been involved in matters much more personal to me and much more important. Upon confronting my friend about this....well let us merely say I learned more about my friend and she got what she wanted.

As a result I went on another trip out of town since the last one went so well. It was fun but hardly what I'd call profound. Although I did get another novel idea if I ever get to fortitude back to write it. That's emotional fortitude FYI not physical fortitude. Physically I am fine. At any rate thanks to Claire for rdcomennding the tellus museum and alisson for recommending the booth
museum. I spent most of the weekend in the hotel room just enjoying the change of scenery, though to be honest I should have chosen another hotel. There was no one else there and it was somewhat creepy.

In some ways I am better than I have been in quite some time, since I have an idea on how to use the demonstratble skills I do have that are exceptional to make the world a better place, even if it won't be very flashy. The problem is that I just don't care to do it alone, and I am losing my ability to decieve myself that there isn't something....missing in me. I don't know what it is, but I know what the practical effect is. Perhaps I lost a part of my soul somewhere along the way in another life or something...if so it would explain a lot.

My plans to move are increasing in seriousness now that I know my calling in life. The problem is that a move won't fix some things. A man cannot run from his own shadow, especially when it hangs over him. I am attempting to use the strengths I do have to fix the ones I do not. Like the cylons, I have a plan. Unlike the cylons, I actually know what it is instead of making it up as I go along. We'll see if it works.

Update: I fixed the spelling errors in this and gave it a title, because I've erased enough of my stuff of late. But things are mostly better in the morning and whilst all of this is still true, in the greater perspective of things its just part of life everyone has to deal with in one manner or another.

Pilgrimidges and Pathos

2011-02-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

I have been to Graceland, and returned. I went, so the saying goes, because of a song. The song in this case being "Graceland" because I like Paul Simon. So when I had two days of...symbolic difficulty, St. Valentine's Day and the Anniversary, it seemed appropriate to do something about it. Especially since my moribund St. Valentine's day ritual was about as mentally healthy as watching paint dry.

So I went to Graceland in Memphis TN. I learned many things. I listened to Outliers along the way. I gained a new perspective on things. This perspective is not perfect. There is still a lot about my situation that absolutely sucks, but it gives me a ladder by which I might remove myself from the pathetic and into the obscure.

I also learned that I liked Elvis. I learned my Destiny. Such as it is. You have to understand Destiny in the first place before you know when you find it and the means to achieve it. But it has also rerenewed my motive to write. I have also found my Tunnel (Monte Cristo reference.)

I may not ever get what I want, but that does not mean that the road less traveled does not have its own reward. Any more cliches I can throw in there?

At any rate. I also learned that letting a well meaning but psychotically deceptive emotionally manipulative person who I met for one day having any meaningful influence on my life probably really was a bad idea. So among other things, I am reembracing my inner geek, even if I am still mostly retired from Gaming. I like cons...a lot. I also discovered this last weekend and the weekend before that that I like small ones as well as large ones. I also like Steam Punk....but I still feel the whole movement is ...missing something. I just don't know what that is.

I have accumulated another medical condition. Exactly what it might mean will be determined Tuesday, so positive thoughts are appreciated.

T7 is moving along slowly but steadily. Sentinel is becoming more my project as well as Jay's so we'll see what happens there. I came back down from the mountain with all kinds of ideas. A week back in the real world (plus a potential meeting with the forces of darkness...or at least opposite forces) might have reduced my enthusiasm somewhat but not entirely.

More to come.

All's Quiet on the Western Front

2011-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Well I have my own place now. Its quiet. Very quiet. I might have to get a pet just to keep my sanity, though to be honest while there is plenty of room for just me, I don't know if there is enough room for a pet. I might wait the year out and get a house instead. At least rent one. I'm still not convinced ownership is something I'd really enjoy.

Still, all things told I'm more or less adjusting well to single life. When I'm watching a video, reading or writing then the silence is a bit less. There's also a rather nice Irish pub nearby called Pub 71 which I might start going to more often. Tuesday night is Trivia night, and if there is one thing I'm full of its trivia.

Birthday and move went well. Skip and Jay not only helped me move once but twice (storage stuff the second time.) A lot of boxes still unpacked but I'm kind of settling into the new place a bit at a time. I don't like moving even if I'm going to likely do it again in a year though I think this time I might hire movers. Jay and Skip were helpful but if I go out of town (a possibility) a pick up truck wouldn't quite do it. Who knows.

Ahead in my job comes peril or great opportunity. Interesting times as it were. Reorg happening to a more agile environment, which could mean a promotion and/or minor leadership position which would be great for my career, or an org change where my current position isn't needed. Of course, i've built the reserves and have the resume ready in case that happens, but I'd still rather it didn't, at least for another year. Steve is a good boss and I've enjoyed working with him.

We'll see what happens.

I Love It When a Plan Comes Together

2011-01-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

Last Night two months of planning came to fruition when we threw a surprise birthday party for Mom at Onstage Atlanta. 12 of her friends showed up and many more sent messages expressing their wish to be there. It lasted for about an hour and a half and people had a very good time. Thanks a great deal to Cathe and Angie for decorating and letting us use the theater.

Now I can focus on some other projects:

First of all I'm going to moving in to a new apartment next week (finally) in Brookhaven. Not my timing, but I'm getting a good deal on the apartment because I agreed to push back the date.

Second I'm starting up novel 5 (the third time) but if there is anyone out there interested in being a reader it would help a great deal. You wouldn't need to edit, just read a chapter every week which would help me pace. Also having a reader helps me improve the quality of what I'm writing. The genre this time will be mystery and I'm looking to start in Feb.

I'll also be starting the short film soon and putting out notices I'm nearly done editing Dueling Morons 2 but I'm still taking my time on it. A lot of this will start after the move

Goals, New Years Eve and Life

2010-12-31T23:23:00.001-08:00

So a bit of a note on the subject of Goals...its a long list, I realize it is. But I live my life by one credo (of many) that goes, "Shoot for the Stars and land in the trees, shoot for the trees and land in the mud." But I also always take to heart two other quotes:

(from Our Town) "Emily: Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?--every, every minute?
Stage Manager: No. Saints and poets, maybe--they do some."

(from Its a Wonderful Life)"Clarence: [In book inscription] Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends."

Even if I succeeded in every goal I ever set beyond my wildest dreams, no award ceremony full of crowded thousands would replace a quiet dinner celebrating a friend's birthday. No ticker tape parade could replace a candle lit dinner with someone you love. And no marble statue in the center of a square could replace a shared family moment of love and laughter. It is the human element that makes life worth living, and if you can't make your life flexible enough to include those things...then you're missing what life is really truly about...the moments with people you care for and that care for you in return.

So this New Year's Eve was amazing. It started out with a Bang at Jeff and Taylor's celebrating his 35th birthday party. Taylor had cooked up a storm. We watched the latter end (well I caught it when I arrived, they were in the midst of watching) "The Never Ending Story" and the First Half of the Season Finale of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" which was quite awesome. I couldn't stay long though. Then I met up with Alison and some of her friends at Pub 71, a life filled wonderful Irish Pub in Brook haven. We were there for 45 minutes and I talked with them. They're very fun people and all wore celebratory New Years hats that they had bought earlier. Then it was off to Russell's. Lots of people there and Clare had set a cheerful and wonderful set up. Russell did a ...thing..swirly fire...thing....that was fun. But I got to do it to, though I did singe the hair on the back of my neck a bit. I only used one but apparently it was somewhat impressive for someone who'd just picked it up. Russell was extremely impressive. Then we toasted with some Champaign Ale and excellent Sparkling Wine brought by Alison.

Midnight Kiss.

Then as we left, we returned to Pub 71 for a bit longer to hang with Alison's posse (and if ever the term 'posse' applied to a group of friends I think this is such a time.) Then a bit of talking and kissing at Alison's place and then off to home.

Goals for 2011.

Social

Make One Person As Happy As Possible (Besides Myself)

Visit with the Family at least once (likely to be the Family Reunion)

Spend Quality Time with Friends at least Twice a Month

Do a Good Turn Monthly

Initiate Social Activities at least once a Quarter (Group Dates do not count for this)

Career (New but Needed Category) (AKA "The 4th Life")

Gain a Stable Permanent Job I Like To Do That Pays Well

Set up a consulting business for side Project Management Work

Continue Project Chrysalis with Mythic Imagination Institute

Take the PRP in June 2011

3rd Life

My Project: Project Dance Of Joy (Film)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Pi Project Management and Writing

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel 4.0 Project Management and Writing

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Podcast

Learn To Edit

Finish Editing Dueling Morons

2nd Life

Write 75000 words

Decide if I like the 5th novel by the 15th of Jan. If not start another by Feb 1. If not then 5 Short Stories + 1 Feature Length Film

Finish the Graphic Novel (Est 5000 more words)

Affiliated Project: Maintain at least 90% post rate on Nerdgasm

Help at least 3 people with their writing, either to start or to help them edit.

1rst Life - Retired.

Publish T7 Project (Now mostly done.)

Physical

Get at least 3 more belts in Karate

Decide then: Either 2 (5 total) belts in Karate OR Start a New Martial Arts OR Start Yoga

Continue Weight Training OR Start Cross Training OR Start Free Weights

Cardio 2 additional times per week

Mental

Read 12 Non Fiction Books

Read 12 Non Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction (at least 2 of which should be classics)

Read 12 Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction

Do Something to improve my creativity (?????)

Learn a New Skill

Spiritual

Read at least one major religious text of a religion that is not my own that I have not read before.

Meditate/Pray at least 3 times a week

Emotional
Be More Generous

Be More Kind

Stop Talking about Dark Things

Withdraw From Politics as Much as Reasonably Possible

Incidental

*Go to Gencon OR San Diego Comicon OR World Con OR Dragon Con

*Go on at least 6 'weekend' trips, ideally at least one per month.

*Go to NYC for at least 3 days (will count as one of the above trips)

*Make CONCRETE plans to go to France in 2012 (or 2011 if realistically possible)

*Spend at least 20 hours at the range improving either pistol OR rifle OR shot gun skills.

*Obtain the Following: A decent couch, a gaming console of some kind (likely a Wii), 10 DVD's for my permanent collection, a piece of original art and something to advance one of my other goals in a meaningful way.

*Do at least one major good deed entirely anonymously. (Besides acknowledging completion of the goal in the assessment)

*Finish the Graphic Novel script and work with Liz to edit as needed.

*Finish the 4th Novel with Ken and help him market it as needed.

Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2011-2012.

2. Travel around the world on a way way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Partially done. 3 more belts will qualify as 'done.' 2011.

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
**Slated 2012.

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a succesful business.

"Start" in 2011-2012. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Currently in progress. Est Completion 2012.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done.

13. Go on a cruise.
2011-2012.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)

27. Ditto the sixth.

28. Ditto the seventh.

47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Assessment of Performance of 2010 Goals

2010-12-29T21:15:00.000-08:00

So first news:

Christmas went very well. I'm currently dating a wonderful girl named Alison who is brilliant and radiant in every conceivable way, and we are very much enjoying each others company.

Around this time of year, I assess my performance on my goals for the year. In June I changed the list due to the major changes in my life. 2011 will be about simplification. The 'lifetime' goals will not change, but I will not have quite as many yearly goals in 2011 as I had in 2010. But I will post those some time Saturday.

For now the Assessment.

Physical: Go to the gym 2-3 days per week.

Done.

2 days of Cardio for 30-60 minutes each week.

Done.

2 days of weight training per week.

Done.

Learn a martial art from Sept – December at the least.

A yellow belt is hardly 'learned' but basically 'done.'

Mental: Reading: 1 Non fiction book work mornings for 10 minutes. 1 Book on tape for transit times at a time. 1 Fiction book every 2 weeks.

**Failed. 40% completed.

Maintain all blogs at least once a week.

**Partially completed. I changed the priority and frequency that I updated my blogs and also added one with Nerdgasm that I do for the Mighty Tide of Justice. Except for the main blog, this is absolutely 'pass' but the 3 month gap in this blog keeps me from making this a complete pass.

Social: Initiate at least 4 non game related social activities over the course of the year. Visit family at least once a month.

Done. Dates count.

Spiritual:

Keep Listening.

Done.

Maintain daily prayer.

Semi done. Enough for me.

Emotional: Say two positive things for every negative thing I say. Have more self confidence.

Done.

1rst: Finish the T7 project.

Done. Not published since I have an opportunity to make it into something more, but it is done to my satisfaction and it should be entirely wrapped up in a few months.

Maintain Monthly Blood of the Earth group.

Done. And well done to boot.

I am retiring this life.

2nd: Create monthly writing group with Rita and Julie. Complete 1 complete story per month.

Done but allowed to disappate due to very busy personal lives of my partners. May find another group in 2011. Maybe.

Finish Novel 4 w. Ken.

Done (my half) Ken is nearly done with his half.

Start the fifth novel by the end of the year.
Done. I may start over though. Will address this in my 2011 goals.

3rd: Finish/submit OPM this year. If successful, submit to at least 9 other festivals.

**Done.

Create/Shoot 1 film by the end of the year.

Done.

Write or collaborate for at least two feature length or series scripts by the end of the year.

Done. (Both with Jay)

4th: Either join the PMI –OR- establish a close relationship with BU Mentor.

Done. (First.)

Initiate 3 projects by the end of year, finish by

-Project: Hammerfel by April.

Initiated. Utter failure.

-Project: Bifrost by October.

Initiated. Deemed not worthy of further persuit.

-Project: Hydra by December.

Delayed. Will be replaced by Project Phoenix in 2011.

Incidental:

Go to Dragoncon 2010

Done.

Go to Gencon 2010

Done.

Go to 20th year High School Reunion.
Failed.

Go on Long weekend trip to NYC
Failed.

Go on Long weekend trip to Florida.
Done.

Visit Family in Houston at least once.
**Done. Twice.

Make preparations to go to Comicon 2011.
See 2011 goals later.

Make preparations to go to Europe 2011.
See 2011 goals later.

Make preparations to go to Family Reunion 2011.
Done.

Learn to shoot a Pistol – At least 25 hours of practice. Seek benchmarks.
Partially done. 9 hours completed.

Evaluate life goals and come up with a 5 year plan to obtain at least 6 things from the list or the equivalent thereof.
*Done.

Create and Fulfill the Zodiac.
**Done but one. Not my concern now and multiple opportunities were given.

Cross the Ocean (Metaphorically speaking)
**Total and complete FAIL.

Have a concrete plan (if applicable) for Project: Gemini.
**Moved to 2011 pending review of other goals.

Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2011-2012.

2. Travel around the world on a way way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Partially done. 3 more belts will qualify as 'done.' 2011.

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
**Slated 2012.

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a succesful business.

"Start" in 2011-2012. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Currently in progress. Est Completion 2012.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done.

13. Go on a cruise.
2011-2012.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)

27. Ditto the sixth.

28. Ditto the seventh.

If the right door opens....

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Life In Motion

2010-12-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

Well, a LOT has happened since I last updated this....

Where shall I begin?

I guess the first piece of big news is that I'm dating a girl named Alison. She's an accomplished businesswoman and a master chef. She's also very intelligent and a sophisticated traveler and we're very attracted to each other. It isn't formal but we've had five dates so far and have three more scheduled well into January. We'll be going to Hellen next week, so make of that what you will. I'm certainly enjoying it.

So the most serious personal bits: October was the Month of the Knee. I strained them while doing a badly done Circle Crescent Kick, and took too much Ibuprofin. That, combined with loud noises in a live concert gave me Tinitus. The good news is that my knees are better. The bad news is that the Tinitus hasn't. I went to a specialist today and she told me to wear ear filters at loud places (concerts), a mouth guard for my grinding and to make sure any ear buds I use go no higher than setting 3 out of 10.

Personal progression is going well. Not as fast as I'd hoped but I'm getting more focused again and getting more energy. In the First (new) Life, I've obtained a Yellow Belt, and going to start on my Advanced Yellow Belt in January. Karate+Walking+Working Out has made me more fit than I've been in years. In the Second Life, I'm proceeding slowly but I've been working with Ken on his part of the fourth novel (finishing it basically) editing and reediting my stuff. We may have the first draft finished by the end of the year. The fifth novel has finally formed in my mind. It will be Magical Realism, with three sub novels bound by two chapters in each 'chapter cycle'. Complicated? Yes. But its "Literary" and more importantly this time I'm writing what I want because I want to. Graphic Novel Chapter 4 looks like it will be done by the end of the year. Third Life is also moving along slowly. I've kept up the Podcast though I'm not sure if it will continue. I'm slowly picking up more skills as an Editor under Jay's Tutledge and have finished an excellent rough cut of the reshoot of Dueling Morons. I'm looking at making a Buffy Fan Film next year...should be much simpler than Other People's Musicals, but we'll see how it works out. "Simple" is relative and I'm still learning tricks with my editor. Re: The Fourth Life, my job is providing me with invaluable Project Management skills. That, plus the Project Management I'm doing for Project Chrysalis with the Mythic Imagination Institute + My Own Company up to now make me finally confident enough to take the PMP some time in May-July of 2011. I'm also going to look into starting consulting work on the side and probably my own business as well. Alison is offering very helpful insights into this.

Two major trips of note since the last entry. The first was the weekend we took in North Carolina (Black Mountain) to celebrate Grandma's 90th birthday. We rented a cabin and got to see a lot of the sites where Grandma grew up. It was a short trip but it was nice. Grandma bought a Harpsicord and we also ate at 'the Goddess' cafe which had really good food.

In late Thanksgiving I visited the siblings in Houston. It was fun. Spent a considerable portion of the time hanging with Greg & his family. They have an AMAZING new house. Rachelle (with Greg's help I'm sure) is doing a diligent job of turning it into a Home (as compared to a House). We played computer games and board games with a few of his friends. Got to eat Thanksgiving with Christy + her family. Had an awesome visit with them but Christy couldn't stay long due to her new job. She seems to love it (which is good) but it also seems a bit stressful. But I'm glad she's enjoying it at least. Randy and Jamie + nephews and nieces came by the next day and we had dinner and talked a lot. Was quite fun. The young ones sure are growing up fast! There and back again I listened to "Tacitus: The Histories" which talked about the Roman Civil War (the big one) and was rather interesting to listen to. Except maybe the part where the accurate and detailed secular history was interlaced with this bizarre anti semetic rant about Jews that sounded like it came straight out of an Inquisition text book. Extremely inaccurate too. It was the only part of the book that also incorporated heavy supernatural elements. Weird.

Other things: Attended a kickass Christmas party at Amy Winburn's house. Got to play board games with Eisen & Co for the first time in months (Karate falls on the same night). Both are excellent hosts and may be involved with helping in the Buffy fan film. I've been walking with Russel & Claire at Stone Mountain about every three weeks. It works quite well.

On a personal note, I'm trying to extricate myself from as much politics as possible. Given how much news and other things I read, that's difficult but what little I've been able to do so far has been of a great benefit to my sanity.

More of course has happened but that's the highlights, and a pretty good job of summarizing 3 months.

One last thing, I've got a syndicated (unpaid) Blog Column on Rob Berris's web site called "The Mighty Tide of Justice" called "Nerdgasm" (I'm Tom Drake). I update it Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. (Warning: Many postings there are not exactly G rated...)

One last last thing: My company has finally come out with the product we've been working on all year. If you get a chance, and you have a smart phone (Android or Iphone) you might download Swagg.

All for now :)

Lessons learned

2010-10-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

The weekend before last I went on another road trip. The start of it involved going to Augusta to prep things for the cleaning we did last weekend. But after that I wanted to go on a road trip. I almost went to Savannah but ultimately I decided to go to Ashville. My GPS died and I had to kind of navigate where I was going based on intuition and signs (yes I could have bought a map but it seemed a waste of money.) I almost didn't find it but on my way back home on 85, I ran into a road that went there. I went on a beautiful drive in the mountains. Because of some things that happened on the internet, I didn't get to do what I originally went up to do (mainly a lot of reading on subjects I need to catch up on) but on the other hand I learned some very valuable lessons.

Dad sat me down a long time ago and broke out a human being into five categories; mental, physical, spiritual, social and emotional. He had me write what I thought my age was and he wrote what he thought my age was. Then we averaged the two. I came out very strongly in the mental and spiritual category, but less so in social and emotional was last. I've always worked on my emotional stability, but surprisingly except for mastering my temper last year, I have never really applied the systematic approach I have to so many other things in my life, including researching what 'emotional maturity' really means.

I know it is a little silly to say that a week makes a huge difference...but a week makes a huge difference. Having a model to study in a systemic fashion, combined with some of the other books on...other subjects...that I've been reading of late have caused me to have yet another paradigm change lately. I have, I admit, been doing that a lot but then again I've had to. Part of it of course is that I have a lot of time to make up for and part of it is that I have less time left. One thing I've noticed on dating sites is a certain age range, and it actually ends at 38 and then 39 and even less at 40. Now to be sure, one part of that paradigm change (yes its a corporatey word but when you get a masters in Project Management you start using corporatey words because they make sense) was that I am going to do things in my own time and in my own way, but with a legitimate sense of urgency in a reasonable fashion. Which might sound like gibberish, but it isn't to me.

So this past weekend, Russel, Claire, Bess, Skip, Grandma and I set off for the House of Doom to clean it. We are still there and may never get out alive. No just kidding. It seems that it is only capable of using the Aura of Despair on just two or three people at a time, and we clearly overwhelmed its defenses, allowing us to finish one room (95%) and make a huge dent in another room (80%). Given that previous trips have been measured in 1-3% progress, with a 5% being a major accomplishment, I think this was rather amazing. We're planning on going back with another (potentially even bigger hoard) in a few weeks. The House of Doom shall fall before our collective might. HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sunday I worked so I had today off. It was nice. Did some texting with a new friend which was also nice. I have started...Karate. And it is currently kicking my ass. However I am determined. Atlanta Kicks is an excellent school and I really like the staff there. Looks like taking my time and doing the research really paid off on this one. Their philosophy, staff and facility are exactly what I'm looking for. A bit expensive, but for four months at least its worth it. After that I will have completed my evaluation of the activity. Still going to the gym as well, though both the martial arts and the gym are not a long term scenario that is going to work.

I've helped Jay market his show the Sentinel Chronicles and will continue to do so (hint: Go to youtube and watch it and stuff!). I am greatly enjoying the Mighty Tide of Justice Blogging. So far I have covered the Ignobel Prize, Goldilocks Planet, a Shampoo Robot and the Apparition Abolishers. However one of the other bloggers, B-Lo, has skills at finding mind bending horrific nerd things that make one want to tear one's eyes out. This is a highly valuable skill which I must observe and master.

Work goes well. There is a very good choice you will be hearing more about the SWAGG application in November if you have a smart phone. In fact, you don't really need a smart phone even to use it. It will allow you to virtualized a good chunk of your wallet. You (theoretically) never need to forget a rewards card again. I do this all the time with my CVS card so it'll be nice.

Projects wise, I'm taking a medium approach. I had originally set the goal for early October to initiate several large measures but I'm also only interested in pursuing excellence, so while I want to be ambitious creative and daring, I also want to make sure I have the skills, the resources and more importantly the friends and associates to make some of the things I want to do happen and in many cases that means taking the time to do it RIGHT rather than just simply doing it and chalking it up as a learning experience.

Life is good and it is getting better all the time. Might be a lyric somewhere, but in my case, it is true.

Anecdote

2010-09-23T07:02:00.001-07:00

Coworker Met in Parking Deck Elevator: I wonder when they're going to clean the coffee stains.

Me: ?

She points to coffee stains on the elevator. "They've been there for quite some time. We keep wondering when someone will clean them."

Me: Oh.

On the way past the security desk, I point out that the coffee stains are there and need to be cleaned.

Security guy: We'll get right on that.

When will they get cleaned?

Answer: When someone does something about it.

Busy and Fun Week

2010-09-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

So Monday I went to Push Push theater with Mom and Skip for a reading of a Winter's Tale. It was really well done because we took just one scene and broke it down into its component parts and analyzed them again and again. It helped me as a writer by showing me how much you can cram into just one scene. Which I like a lot. I hope to go again though I won't be going tomorrow because of the Letoro Concert for Mythic plus the Venture Brother's viewing at Sergey's.

On Tuesday I went to the Gym and worked out. I also got more reading done on Dark Faith. I've been working diligently trying to review it but its a 400 page anthology of very deep and profound stories and I want to do them all justice. Then I went to see the first half of Venture Brothers and while I'd seen a few episodes, I must say it is six buckets of awesome. Blithering Idiot ale is also nice but I'm not gonna have that much again next time. We had fun.

Wednesday I had a nice talk with Jay and also got offered a part as a writer for the Mighty Tide of Justice website, which I am looking forward. I checked out the martial arts place I chose called Atlanta Kicks, and while it is expensive it sounds like what I'm looking for. Right now I'm tempted to go for their bigger package which includes cross training. I've been exercising more and lost some weight but until I reach certain thresholds I'd rather not mention specific numbers...yet.

Thursday night I went to the gym and got some errands done.

Friday I finally mailed Wayne's hat back. I then went to the range and practiced with 200 rounds. I'm about half of where I want to be, but I improved. Practice, as they say, makes perfect. I then went to see the show Winter's Bone, which is an absolutely excellent movie that I recommend if you can see it, though its indy and not for the feignt of heart. It is about the struggle of a 17 year old girl who has to keep her family together by taking rather drastic steps and how she suffers because of it. I then ate dinner and had a few beers at Manuel's tavern. This was just the right amount of alcohol and I had a good time. This might seem small or trivial, but for me it feels as if I have obtained one of many pieces of my life and skills that others take for granted that I've never had. (shrugs). It was a good night for me.

Saturday, I went to see the Dali exhibit at the High Museum of art. Dali was awesome but looney toons. I learned he was amazing self promoter and had an obsession with Nuclear Mysticism and Rhinoceros horns. I definitely want to continue learning more about him. I went to Centennial Olympic Park for an amazing view of the city, got some writing done and then practice Billiards a bit at Twain's.

Today has been relaxing and I've done rather little.

Blueprints for Life

2010-09-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

So, I'm mixed. See, I ...hmmm...I'll use an analogy.

In "The Stand"...well, in "On Writing" the autobiography of Steven King, in which he writes about WRITING "the stand" he mentioned getting stuck in the middle of the book because his characters were doing exactly the same thing that the rest of society had been doing before he'd spent the first third of the book wiping it out. Of course, many consider the ending to be sub par to the rest of the book.

I don't want to be stuck in a pattern of failure. On the other hand, my ability to set goals and be organized is my greatest strength. So I can set goals and generally accomplish them, but I need to find a balance between setting goals that lift me up as a person and lift the world up, but that also leave enough room in my life for spontenity.

Here are my initial goals that I thought up at Dragon Con.

For my second life, writing, the next novel will be a contemporary novel set in the near future. Yes, that sounds like sci fi, but the difference is that I'm writing what I want to write, and there are a lot of things I want to say about the world and this is a way to say it. I also mean to write a few more scripts.

For my third life, producing, I've decided to produce a play, a documentary and a movie of some kind over the next year. The subject of the documentary has already presented itself to me but I'm not sure of the exact tone or scope. I also want to be cautious not to step on toes. For the film I'm not sure but I'm bouncing a lot of ideas.

For my fourth life I want to start a damn business. I have ideas but one way or another something will be in motion by the end of the year.

For my fifth live (yes, I'm starting that one already), I want to continue working with the Mythic Imagination Institute. Its a not for profit. I also want to work with a charity, but I'm not sure which one. I am patient but keeping my eyes open.

That still leaves who *I* am. I'm definitely going to start the martial art this year and I think I have the place picked out. Might keep up with the shooting. The larping...I was given caution on that and I'm considering. I am getting old, so I'm not sure one can continue to this kind of thing forever. On the other hand, I know being alone at dragon con sucked. So what I might also consider doing is getting involved with some local sci fi clubs/fan bases that ran tracks at Dragon Con. I'm still researching that.

Still, there are a few things that feel missing, but its a start. I have at least a frame work for a life and a direction, and those things will take up quite a bit of my time in the next few weeks anyway. While I'm open to dating at this point, I was given some very good advice about a few new skill sets I'd do well to learn....

How to learn them is still a bit of a mystery, but I'll keep you posted...

On the whole, things go well. Finished the first half of the graphic novel script, and writing a rather long kick ass review for a friend, though its an anthology which slows down how fast I can write it or the short stories all start to blur together.

Summary of Summer and Plan for Life 1 - Gaming

2010-09-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

So, even though in many ways I consider myself 'retired' in this aspect of my life since I've done masterful things in the following areas:

Written and Published a supplement with a major rpg company
Run a gaming company
Run a masterful PBEM that was the crescendo of 10 years of epic play
Run almost two dozens awesome face to face campaigns
Played almost every conceivable character
Done hundreds of random 'things' I've wanted to do in games.

So, I think I can call that a lifetime of achievement. Obviously I could do more or less, but I'm satisfied with it. But even when 'retired' one can do things.

In this case, I've spent the summer thinking of a lot of things. Recovering, drifting and the like. It might seem a little silly to 'plan' one's life but things have been so upside down for me that the inertia that most people have simply doesn't apply to me. Everything was literally in flux. And it still is but I'm finally at a point where I can at least pick *A* direction and move that way.

Dragon Con 2010 was a crucible for me, which was very painful in some ways, but it was also at the same time a creative reset. I had a rather nice LARP experience that was quite fun. I have determined that I'm going to want to go back next year, which this year was very much in flux.

The chance of my staying in Atlanta at this point has gone up to about 67%. Basically, I'm going to try and make as much of a life here as I can. I'm moving out on my own again in early December and I'm going to spend six months after that establishing as many friendships and ties as I can, building a life as if I intended to stay a long time. If I feel satisified with my life and I'm still employed I'll stay. If I lose my job again, or I really feel only partially fulfilled, then I'll give some place else a try.

The night of my divorce, I had a conversation with someone that emotionally scarred me, forcing me to question a lot of my associations and hobbies. I've decided that while I do need to expand my life into other areas, quite frankly I'm satisfied and proud of a lot of the 'geekier' things I've done. Here's a hint: There were (by my count) about 40% of women for every guy at Dragon con, in some of the most nerdlike hobbies imaginable. So the primary argument of my 'nemesis' as she referred to herself, is essentially null and void. The flip side of that is that most of them are about 10 year younger....good for younger generations, not so helpful for me but (shrugs) the other major decision I've made is that while I'm open to dating at this point, I'm going to spend my time putting my damn life back together first since I still have occasional mental/emotional break downs. In fact, the truth is that given all the baggage I carry at this point, those won't ever entirely go away. Its a fact I have to understand going forward. High maintenance, impersonal or empathetical companions are best avoided in general, but especially in my case because I'd end up emotionally investing in someone that is just going to cause problems later on down the line. One step at a time.

So 'the plan' is as follows:

While I'll still do incidental board games and table top rpg's with friends, I'm kind of 'done' with that on a regular basis. LARP's on the other hand, I've found I love. I'm definitely upping my activity in that area, so I'll be spending the next few months finding one (and only one) that I really like. I'm kind of partial to trying out the Forest of Doors first because they ran the LARP I liked so much at Dragon Con.

The second thing I'm going to do is something competitive and something physical. If the Martial Art X (something I hope to start after the 15th of this month whatever it might be) is fun and I enjoy it, I'll try tournaments in that area. If it isn't, I might try competitive shooting (since I now know from experience I like shooting guns....which shouldn't really be a surprise) or perhaps billiards. That decision will ultimately be made at the end of the year.

More posted each day as I plot out my 'life'.

Oh and I'm retiring Red Anvil at the end of the year. What that means EXACTLY is still kind of vague but it certainly doesn't mean I'm not going to be doing many creative things. In fact, in some ways, this is only the beginning.

Meh

2010-08-25T14:18:00.001-07:00

So this last weekend was rather relaxing. I was mildly ill on Saturday but I got better moderately quickly. I got almost nothing done but that isn't the biggest complaint in the world. Plus after the previous weekend I needed the rest. :) The one exception to this was a basic firearms class I took Sunday night which was interesting.

The weekend before last I was a security guard at Fairy Escape, which was boring but fun. Got to see a lot of really interesting panels and to see the after evening entertainment. This was rather nice though I ended up having to guard a door most of the evening after my shift. But that was OK because I'd volunteered to help out for a friend plus it was for Mythic Imagination Institution which is a cause I support. Sunday I directed a scene for Sentinel. Production is really not my thing but seeing a bit of what they do will help me write scripts for them in the future...I'm getting largely burned out of writing...and a lot of other things. I don't think it means I'll never write again but finishing my committed projects is taking more time and I'm also looking into new things to do. After dragoncon I'll be taking that martial arts I always wanted to take. I think it mainly just means I am ready for a new direction, I'm just not sure how much of my old life I'll carry over.

Good friends and family of course, some science fiction and fantasy books, I know I like LARPing...in fact after Gencon I like it even more....board games and table top....I dunno. Maybe. I'm not opposed to the idea but it depends I think on how many other things are going on. Outdoors and sports and the like are increasing in my interest right now...as are (if I do writing) Mysteries and more mainstream literature. I'm not sure about film work...it depends on how the edit of the reshoot of Dueling Morons goes I think.

Almost a Month

2010-08-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

And a whole hell of a lot has happened.

Highlights: Well, lets see...Gencon went really well. Attended five larps (summaries of some are included in the links below.) Enjoyed myself. Things were a little morose on Saturday of last weekend but saw the Other Guys and it went well. I think I like LARPS because of the social dynamic. Its fun too, though the stories can be really really complicated. It makes sharing the experience outside of the LARP rather difficult.

Writing is kind of difficult. Haven't updated the writing blog but my highest priority right now is that graphic novel followed by Novel 4. Its one thing if I want to take a break for a while, its something else entirely if I do it with writing partnerships. For that matter, Dueling Morons the reshoot is sitting around gathering dust, though I hope to get Jay's help in extracting the footage via fire wire once he's done shooting this weekend and the next.

I keep thinking of things I should post more but I'm drawing a total blank. I may consider dating after Dragon Con. Right now I'm considering moving some time in Feb or March of next year. Not sure where. New York or San Francisco or Miami are the most likely locations, but there are a lot of factors involved in the decision. Part of which will also determine when I move out of Mom and Skip's, since if I'm only going to be in an apartment 4 months that kind of defeats the point. I think a change could do me a lot of good.

Two other things: Earlier back in July I saw Mom in Trailer Park the Musical. It was great. It was so great they extended her show a week. The guy who directed that is in talks with the two of us to maybe do a play I mentioned earlier that Mom suggested we do. I'd mainly be producing. Want to give my creative juices a bit of a break. The second thing is that I served jury duty immediately upon returning from Gen Con. I'll post more on that in my political blog another time. Enough for now.

Latest Red Anvil Podcast: The House Atop the Falls

Memes of My Father:

1950's Avenger's Trailer

Dinosaur Metal

Review Blog

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Dresden Files RPG

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Gaming Blog

Dresden Files RPG Intro Campaign

King of Feldra LARP

The Seven LARP

Immortal Invisible War LARP

Slowly Healing

2010-07-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Things are slowly getting better. Very slowly. I've been keeping myself busy with projects here and there. Staying with Mom and Skip for a few months was a very wise decision. I've also had a lot of supportive siblings, and friends (Jay, Russel and Kalina in particular) which I greatly appreciate. It has helped take what would be a night mare scenario and instead make it merely a painful one. I'm still not used to things, but I'm getting there.

I have found a bar I like. Twains. It has the feel of what I'm looking for which is kind of the essence of everything I like about Decatur. I've only had one beer both times I've gone but have enjoyed the ambiance. They have concerts on Thursday nights and I think I'll make this a weekly occurrence. It helps me feel more like a real person and not just someone whose whole life revolves around rpg's, board games, computer games, internet games, LARPS, television and movies. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those things, but a balanced life has more. Right now for me 'more' consists of the gym....and these concerts. Writing helps, but I want my writing to reflect more of the world at large at this point. There is so much I've never had a chance to experience, now is the time to go out and experience it. I've explored every world that never was, inside out frontwards and backwards to the point that I'm pretty much a Master Explorer, Creator and "Citizen" of the Imagination. Now how about reality?

More dangerous, but more exciting at the same time. I think the lesson at the end of "Labyrinth" is a good one. Live in reality, but you can always have your 'old friends' around any time you close your eyes. Plus most of my real friends are involved in the unreal on a regular basis, so its not like I'm going to change things too radically.

Some of the things that are changing, besides the 'bar' are that I'm signing up for a pistol coarse with American Classic Marksman this week. I'm also taking a martial arts class in September. Still haven't chosen which one but I've got a whole month to do so.

Was going to go to my 20th high school reunion this week but was unable to get a flight for less than a thousand by the time it became clear I'd be able to go. Was going to go to Graceland instead for the weekend. But I had my first hangover. Moderation is definitely something is wise to practice.

Other Blog Links

Character Blog: New Dresden file monthly game I'm taking part in
Review Blog: Despicable Me
Review Blog: Inception
Meme Blog: Left Behind Practical Joke
Meme Blog: Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Meme Blog: Sister Meme
Writing Blog: Update

Plod

2010-07-06T07:29:00.001-07:00

Other Blogs
-----------
Review: Forever Odd
Review: Movie: Splice
Review: Movie: Toy Story 3
Writing Blog: Progress
Poetry/Politics: More Emo Poetry

So the Friday before last I went out to see Toy Story 3. I liked it so much that Grandma, Mom and I went the next Friday. It was important to me that they see it in the theater. No regrets there.

Sent Kalina my tent, I'm not using it. It is rather small...much too small for me. I'm gonna have to get and/or rent a special one but fortunately REI is just AWESOME for that. The membership is totally awesome, unlike most, you only pay it once EVER and if you only go camping two or three times a year it totally pays for itself. You can rent tents and backpacks for dirt cheap. Yes, it can make some economical sense to just buy it yourself, but you also have to store it, and the quality you get by renting it is much higher than if you buy it. Especially in my case where I need a special tent due to my overly largish looming frame.

For the 4th of July we watched "Watchmen" which I regard as thematically appropriate given my current opinion of all things political. Exercise is doing well. I find that a good thirty minute walk on the treadmill helps my attitude considerably.

A Change Will Do You Good

2010-06-25T14:04:00.001-07:00

Other Blogs
------------
Meme Blog: Orange Validation via Joe.
Codex: Building My Bifrost A slightly less Emo Poem.

So, the big news of the week is that I went on a trip to St. Augustine, FL. And it was awesome. It helped me put things right in my head in certain ways. I also discovered a rather helpful Muse along the way. Kitten has begun reading some of my stuff, which was quite handy because I was able to finish the Season 3 script for Sentinel Chronicles and two more pages of 7th Seal. I'm going to do more writing this weekend (though I'll probably put details of that in the writing blog later.)

I visited San Marcos, which is an old fort. They fired a canon. It was cool.

I visited Ripley's Believe it or not. It was also rather cool. I think the best and most interesting exhibits were the giant erector set ferris wheel that was 30 feet high, the 'fantasy castle' made of hundreds of semi precious stones and the hair from JFK (which is apparently rarer than any other kind of memorabilia than any other president.)

I visited the Lightner museum which is like...a collection of gilded age stuff that this one rich guy bought in the great depression from a lot of other rich guys who got it by....being rich guys in the late 19th century and early twentieth century. (Hint: They call it the Gilded age for a reason.) Got some photos on my iphone. I'll see if I can upload them to facebook later. Probably not, I have horrible luck with that kind of thing.

I ate at the Gypsy Cab. I had ribs. Basic, I know. I also had as an appetizer smoked salmon which tastes like Fish Jerky. Except it was awesome.

The beach in St. Augustine is just....amazing. Which was bar none THE best part of the entire trip. On the way up I listened to "How to talk to anyone: 62 tricks." Very interesting. On the way back I listened to "Forever Odd" by Dean Koontz. I may or may not review them later.

Got my computer back from Jay. Enjoying spending time with Mom and Skip and Grandma. Spending a few months with them was definitely the RIGHT choice.

Doing something fun tonight and going out. No idea where. That's half the fun of it all.

Recovering slightly

2010-06-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

So the thumbnail version of what happened on the 9th: I foolishly leaped right into a free dating site, not seriously but to see 'what the hell.' I won't go into details, and I have good reason not to, but I end up emailing back and forth with this person, and at increasingly high frequency. Finally it goes to texting and then an a phone call. The individual in question is intelligent, honest and mostly ethical. I thought there might be chemistry there....its usually a good indicator that there is....only I find out in the last 10 minutes of the FIVE HOUR conversation that said person has ulterior motives that do not extend to the topic I thought the conversation might entail, and being as emotionally vulnerable as I was a the time, shared details that are not wise to share with a total stranger...

So....needless to say, I got a nice double helping of emotional rejection. Don't get me wrong, there was some very useful criticism in there that I'm taking heavily into consideration. I'm doing this primarily because I'd already been considering doing it anyway, but among the things I've learned are:

**Jennifer provided me with certain restraints against self destructive behaviors. Now that she is no longer a check I need to make sure I don't get lost in easy things that will cut me off or alienate me from society...I could easily 'geek out' and allow otherwise harmless activities to become the entirety of my existences because they make the pain go away. So does alcohol. A little bit can be fine for social situations, but crawling inside the bottle solves nothing.

**I would rather do 2-3 things VERY well than 16 things of a half-assed nature. Simplification and streamlining are the key and most importantly of all; it is perfectly fine to help people out. I enjoy helping people out. BUT, my emotional investment in someone else's project or suggested project should never ever exceed what they themselves are prepared to put into it.

**I'm very very good at putting on a civil face for society that everything is fine, but much like the 'oil plumes' in the gulf, there are Emo issues that I still need to resolve and might take some time to resolve, and if I am wise, I will be very cautious on going full steam ahead. The problem is that life has taught me that fortune favors the bold and that 'getting right back on' solves a lot of problems. These two sides of myself will war with each other for some time to come. Fortunately, I've stacked the deck on the side of sanity in several ways.

**I'm quasi merging all my other blogs into this one albeit with thumb nails.

I'll put the most 'fun' at the top and go down from there.

Meme Blog: Meme of Joy Via Christy
Super Ingredient Force Via Taco Bell
Opinion Blog: Short Review of the A-Team Movie
Character Blog: Short Synopsis of the end of my 8th Month Long "Blood of the Earth" Shadowrun Campaign.
Writing Blog: Update on progress on novel 4, graphic novel and two poems for the podcast. Includes a sample of the first page of the graphic novel.
Emo Poetry/Politics Blog: The Ties that Bind (Emo Poetry)
Emerald Eyes (Homage to a friend's deceased companion)
Tower of Steel and Blood (Emo Poetry)
The Case for the Blue Pill (More Emo Poetry)

Happenings this week: Hung out with Mom, Skip and Grandma. Cleaned my room. Talked Sentinel with Jay. He fixed my computer so I should be resuming the podcast in July. Might do a June. Maybe. Um.....Work exists. Got a lot done this week.

Happenings this weekend: I'm going on a weekend trip. Somewhere. South. Unsure where. I'll give details as I know them.

Revising Priorities

2010-06-10T12:48:00.001-07:00

The time has come for an accounting.

Let us start with the annual goals.

Physical: Go to the gym 2-3 days per week. 2 days of Cardio for 30-60 minutes each week. 2 days of weight training per week. Learn a martial art from Sept – December at the least.

**This is on track and I want to keep it.

Mental: Reading: 1 Non fiction book work mornings for 10 minutes. 1 Book on tape for transit times at a time. 1 Fiction book every 2 weeks.
**This is not at all on track and I might resume it once I clear some space.
Maintain all blogs at least once a week.

**Kept to now. This is changing. The core blog will be maintained once a week but all other blogs shall be incidental and satilites of this one. “Los Fragments de un Alma Rota” means “Shards of a Broken Soul” and only I can reassemble them. Only I can heal myself and only I can define my life as I want it to be. I cannot guarantee the results but only I can choose the direction.

Find some kind of puzzle type thing that I actually like to increase my intelligence.

**This seems like a waste of time and is being dropped.

Social: Initiate at least 4 non game related social activities over the course of the year. Visit family at least once a month.

**This is being dropped due to the Divorce. Kept to now.

Maintain 2-3 social activities (can including gaming) on a weekly, bi weekly or monthly basis.

**I think this is a good idea. However I’m only going to keep one gaming related activity. I need more ‘normal’ in my diet. I’m pretty sure I know which one too. Kept to now.

Continue Date Night Once a week.

**Dropped for obvious reasons. Kept till separation.

Spiritual: Perform at least one act of community service a month.

**Dropped. Kept to now.

Keep Listening.

**Kept.

Maintain daily prayer.

**Dropped. I believe in God. I think that God interacts with the world, but I no longer believe in any kind of meaningful reliable and consistent communication with Him save that He loves us. Specifically, I have reason to believe that My Prayers aren’t really answered in a way that can be rationally distinguished from a delusion and are therefore a waste of my time save making myself feel better. Kept till physical separation.
Finish reading the Dhampala. Start reading another spiritual work, finish it by the end of 2010.

**Dropped. Kept to now.

Emotional: Say two positive things for every negative thing I say. Have more self confidence.

**Keep the self confidence. I now reserve the right to be negative whenever I want. I still intend to mostly be more positive than negative but I’m not trying to cheer anyone up or maintain morale.
1rst: Finish the T7 project.

**To be Delegated or dropped. Kept to now.
Maintain FCC once a week.

**Dropped due to Staff indifference. Kept to now.

Maintain DM at least twice a month.

**Mostly dropped. Too many hobbies in this area makes me too alien.
Maintain Monthly Blood of the Earth group.

**Dropped. Kept to now.

2nd: Create monthly writing group with Rita and Julie. Complete 1 complete story per month.

**Under consideration. A decision will be made in August. Not Kept.

Finish Novel 4 w. Ken.

**Starting this next week.

Finish Novel 5 by the end of the year.

**Dropped.
3rd: Finish/submit OPM this year. If successful, submit to at least 9 other festivals.

**Done.

Create/Shoot 1 film by the end of the year.

**I cheated. I reshot Dueling Morons. There will be no new films this year. Potentially ever depending on how DM or OPM do. I’ll get just as much out of helping other people with theirs.

Write or collaborate for at least two feature length or series scripts by the end of the year.

**Keeping one. The other is under consideration but may be dropped pending response.

Either Finish the musical or produce a play.

**No and increasingly no. Pending review in July.

4th: Either join the PMI –OR- establish a close relationship with BU Mentor.

**Done. (First.)

Initiate 3 projects by the end of year, finish by

-Project: Hammerfel by April.

**Initiated. Utter failure.

-Project: Bifrost by October.

**Preliminary work indicates that this is a horrible idea and I no longer have any desire to implement it.

-Project: Hydra by December.

**Under consideration. Review by August.

Incidental:

Go to Dragoncon 2010

**On track. However, I am done questing for Ribbons. This will probably be my last year in attendance barring acceptance of OPM.

Go to Gencon 2010

**On track.
Go to 20th year High School Reunion.
**Under review. I’m essentially paying hundreds for an air ticket (When I hate to fly) to visit people who haven’t seen me in twenty years to appear before them an abject failure….In fact the only thing keeping it on the table is that it happens once and only once. I missed the 10th. I will decide next week.

Go on Long weekend trip with Jennifer to NYC
**Drop the Jennifer part. On track for Oct.
Go on Long weekend trip with Jennifer to Florida.
**Dropped for lack of reason to go.
Visit Family in Houston at least once.
**Done. Repeat in Thanksgiving it looks like.
Make preparations to go to Comicon 2011.
**In consideration. Will do in July.
Make preparations to go to Europe 2011.
**In consideration. Pending November status of events.
Make preparations to go to Family Reunion 2011.
**On track.
Learn to shoot a Pistol – At least 25 hours of practice. Seek benchmarks.
**On track. 4 hours a month starting in July. Once a week.
Evaluate life goals and come up with a 5 year plan to obtain at least 6 things from the list or the equivalent thereof.
**On track. After this.
Obtain all 5 physical objects – Car, Tablet OR Flatscreen OR Internet capable television, Reserve, Pistols, Jennifer Lasik
**Done. Indirectly done. Done. In consideration. Financially impossible.
Create and Fulfill the Zodiac.
**Done but one. Not my concern now and multiple opportunities were given.
Cross the Ocean (Metaphorically speaking)
**Total and complete FAIL.
Have a concrete plan (if applicable) for Project: Gemini.
**Moved to 2011 pending review of other goals.

Perform one major production for the podcast.
**Dropped.
Life Goal Review
0. Become a father.
**Keep but no longer Zero goal.
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2011.

2. Travel around the world on a way way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
**Keep.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Slated 2010 Sept.

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
**Slated 2012.

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.
**Keep.

6. Start seven businesses.
**Modified. Pending update and review.

7. Learn a musical instrument.
**Indefinitely delayed.

8. Sculpt something memorable.
**Keep.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Currently in progress. Est Completion 2012.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.
**I have no idea what the hell a taught is. Otherwise keep.

11. Write seven novels.
**In progress. Rough guess completion….2014?

12. Produce a musical based on Simon Bolivar.
**Dropped.

13. Go on a cruise.
**This is a life goal? Sure. Maybe 2011 or 2012.

14. Organize a convention (ideally one based on Sci fi)
**Drop the sci fi. Keep the convention.

15. Invent a card game.
**Dropped.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)
**Keep.

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
**Keep.

18. Have a room with a secret passage
**Keep.

19. Learn electronics (ideally a remote controlled object or robot battles robot)
**Drop.

20. Gain 3 patents.
**Move to Opportunity.

21. Own a self sufficient piece of land (energy, food, light manufacturing)
**Move to Opportunity.

22. Go on a cruise.
**What the hell with the cruises? Dropped due to duplication.

23. Be in a guerrilla musical dance number.
**Hell yeah keep! Maybe 2011 or 2012.

24. Help in a local political campaign (meaningfully)
**Dropped. Politicians all suck and lie and are not worthy of my time. (Reference Project Hammerfell failure above.)

25. Set up a treasure hunt for after I die. A real one.
**Meh.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what)
**Keep.

27. Ditto the sixth.
**Keep.

28. Ditto the seventh.
**Keep.

If the right door opens.
29. Kept to myself.
**Gee that was clever Tom….what the hell was it?

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.
**Worthy.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.
**Keep.

32. Buy my own island.
**Keep.

33. Establish technological reboot centers.
**Drop. Scott Brown removed any desire to preserve civilization. An enema might do us good.

34. Create a national movement to reform the electoral system.
**Drop.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.
**TOTALLY Keep.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.
**Keep.

37. Create an institution dedicated to the study of Narcolepsy.
**HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH! No. I am not Mother Teresa nor am I Ghandi.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.
**Keep.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.
**Keep.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.
**Keep.

41. Create a school system based on my ideas of education.
**Dropped.

42. Create a wide range of nuclear desalination plants on the west coast.
**OK Tony Stark…what the hell…it is ‘opportunity.’

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long with higher intelligence (ie uplift)
**Ditto.

More to come. The Master Goals and Priority are also being adjusted.

Major Life Failure

2010-06-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

Time for a reevaluation....and that means EVERYTHING is on the table.

I did one of these two months ago.

Time for doing it from a different perspective through the looking glass.

I, and only I, can decide what I want and where I want to go and what in my life both in terms of active goals and activities helps me get there.

I will maintain my reasonable obligations, since I know WHO I am, and of those things, my word is my bond...but beyond that....

Everything is on the table.

This is the way the world ends.

2010-06-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

On June 10th, 2010 Carol Flake ended the world at 9:13am. The was neither bang nor whimper but a few beauracratic questions, the swish of a pen and a quiet wait for a verified copy of the papers. Jennifer, as petioner, was asked if the marriage wAs fi ally, irretreivably broken. She answered, "Yes.". Thus ending 1966 days of union.

The end of the end

2010-05-18T12:40:00.001-07:00

Time is fading fast. I will be moving out Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. Jennifer is moving out Saturday. She has a lot more to move than I do. Our court date is on the 9th of June.

Saw Iron Man 2 last weekend. I enjoyed it. I'm also reading a lot. Finished "Changes" by Jim Butcher. It had a rather shocking end but I liked it.

Things are difficult, but I'm dealing with them, but I don't want to put all the details here. There are other places for that. We're still parting as amicably as possible. That's what counts.

A lot can happen in two weeks

2010-05-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

And this time I'll go backward in chrolological order instead of forward. So the most annoying thing going on right now is that I got a flat tire yesterday. That basically has disrupted my plans for the whole weekend but I've managed to make the best of it. Today I'm hanging out with Mom, Skip and Grandma celebrating mother's day with them. Yesterday I played a board game with Russel, Sean and a friend of theirs named Jim. It was a board game called Advanced Civilization and we played until 6am. Normally this would be a terrible idea but lately it was a welcome distraction.

Yesterday, I ran my "Shadowrun: Blood of the Earth" game, the final session at the current house and it went quite well. Managed to tie my home game into the account well. Before that I went hiking on Stone Mountain with Russel. It was quite fun. Talked to Ken before I went. He's been really busy but we'll be picking up Novel 4 some time in July probably.

Friday I talked to Jay and went to the Gym. He has finished Architects of Fear and submitted to Dragon Con. It's pretty kickass and I'm glad to be working with him and the rest on that project. Got my hair cut (Aekon studios. They do an EXCELLENT job). Picked up a tent, sleeping bag and the like at REI for another hike I'm doing with Russel later.

Thursday I got "Changes" from the library. Perfect way to start the day is to pick up a Dresden Files book. Mom, Skip, Grandma and I saw "Taming of the Shrew" at the Shakespear Tavern. It was absolutely kick ass.

Wednesday made a new character for a game we're starting next week being run by Andy Harmon. Got some writing done(following the suggestions I asked the family for based on a master story idea list.) Should prove quite fun. I watched "Papillon" at home with Jennifer. It seemed kind of lame until I found out it was based on a true story. It was about a guy who tried to escape a lot from French prisons in the early 20th century and got betrayed a lot.

Tuesday night I also went to the gym.

Monday I saw the counselor. He's helpful in terms of putting things into perspective but I'm not sure if I'll do it too long.

Saturday (previous) night I got drunk (OK mildly tipsy drinking 6 "Mike's Hard Lemonades) for the first time with Jay while we were discussing Sentinel Chronicles and its future. Hung out a bit with his Dad and learned things I hadn't learned about the civilian command infrastructure of the defense department. It was fun.

Friday night (previous) Jennifer and I went to see the Hot Tub Time Machine. Its pretty much what you saw in the trailers but it is pretty good. I'd give it a solid B but definitely worth seeing (though not a family film).

Wednesday night (previous) hunt out with Jay and we discussed much about Sentinel Chronicles.

First Stage Move Complete

2010-04-25T15:49:00.001-07:00

Well another week has come and gone. First, Jennifer and I saw Kickass the Friday before last and it was very good. The next weekend was fairly relaxed. Wednesday I played D&D at CCP with the old crew. Tuesday night I talked with Jay about Sentinel. Working out has been quite successful...dieting, not so much. I've actually managed to gain five pounds in the last three or four weeks. For this reason, combined with an impending hike that I've been invited to in a week, I'm now training with a 50 pound backpack on a 10% incline on the treadmill. Good thing too because at 1.5 miles on a 10% incline at 2mph, it still caused me to sweat after 45 minutes.

I've moved most of my bed and computer to Mom and Skips. I'll be staying with them for three months or so as a buffer for a while. Being around family is a good idea right now I think. Right now I'm using Mom's netbook and we're watching some GPD TV but I won't be moving in quite yet. Otherwise, things are going well. The papers are now drawn up and we're submitting them tomorrow. Jennifer and I are still getting along well.

Life in motion

2010-04-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy week, and part of that is because I've deliberately kept myself busy and part of that is because friends and family have helped a lot by giving me opportunities to keep busy. I've also been able to deal with things by helping people whenever I can in little ways; now granted this is something I tend to try and do ANYWAY, but the fact of the matter is that this habit has served me well now, because it helps minimize the lows. And there have been some lows.

But the truth of the matter is, as much as I worked to save things, the fact of the matter is the Jennifer is ready to move on. And that fact has helped me come to the point that I'm also ready to move on. As such, we're accelerating the filing date from the 30th to tomorrow (or at least that's the theory.) The fact of the matter is, Jennifer was also less than pleased that we were putting such an emotionally charged day right before her 35th Birthday. And she had a good point, so we're moving it. We still get along very well, though little subtle things have changed. There are definitely a lot of things I will miss about our relationship (and a few I won't but I'm not going to go into details.) We're parting with honor, love and friendship and ultimately that's the best that you can do in this kind of a situation.

We went to Janie and Patrick's play, "All in the Timing" which was surprisingly clever. It was a series of shorts by a guy called David Ives. I particularly liked the bit where the monkey's were writing the screen play for Hamlet. It reminded me a lot of Mining the Dreamplane and showed me that I'm not anywhere as original as I thought. Although...the actual details were substantially different. I'd highly recommend you go see it...but...it isn't there anymore...it was a very short run. Mom and Skip have been trying to get me to do a rendition of Rossom's Universal Robots...and I think this convinced me to do so. We'll see. A play is going to be rather expensive to do right, but first I need to find a script. Did you know that despite the fact that it was written in 1921, there do not seem to be any public domain translations? I'm considering a wide range of options including writing my own 'inspired by' version with a hefty help from babelfish. You can get the Czech version from Project Guttenberg.

Saturday I ran my Shadowrun game, which is moving along quite well. Sunday I worked out and got my first Massage...it helped a lot with the stress. What fascinated me was how much certain meditation mantras have with actual hypnotic induction. There is a lot more similarity between the two than I hithertonow might have thought.

Monday I hung out at Eisen's and played board games with folks. I was Dracula in "Fury of Dracula" which was quite fun but it kind of dragged towards the end. It is not a game you play in 2 hours or so, especially with people who haven't played it before.

Tuesday night was pretty calm. I got some writing done and Jennifer and I watched TV. We've finished season three of the Wire and it is quite good.

Wednesday night I ran a one shot D&D game at CCP. We had seven players. I'll put a log of it and the previous game that Russel ran on my Character blog some time next week. I am sometimes convinced I'm insane for maintaining so many blogs but when I look at the archive I change my mind. Particularly with the rpg blog. I've been playing RPG's for more than 30 years but there is no real log of some of the best recreational experiences of my life. The rpg blog changes that.

Thursday night I hung out and had a beer with my friend Ed Glamkowski. We talked of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings. He's doing well.

Tonight Jennifer and I are going to see Kickass.

Well, let's see

2010-04-08T12:20:00.001-07:00

Um....I've worked out some. I helped a friend move. I played some D&D. I've done work.

Very boring week really.

Another week in passing.

2010-04-02T18:51:00.001-07:00

Given the circumstances, things are going relatively well. There is pain sometimes, but there is also relief as things can finally move forward again for the first time in a large time. Last weekend we saw How to Train Your Dragon, which was quite good. The screening for "Other People's Musicals" went very well. It was in the middle of two other showings, one for the Sentinel Chronicles Ep. 5 and a movie called "Alone." Mom was in all three and got an award. It was nice seeing almost all of the people who worked on the movie again, even it probably is the last time that many will be together in one place. I can see why Actors and others in plays and film like what they do, since the bond of comradarie is quite strong...even if it means constantly giving it up again when things end.

I strained my back for a while but it got better. Jennifer had a wound that has required changing the bandage (the doctor removed something) but it has healed well for the most part. Wednesday night I played D&D with some friends at CCP. 4th Edition is much better than I thought it was.

Week in Review

2010-03-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a week. I'm handling things well for the most part. Jennifer and I are still good friends. There are occasional moments of...awkwardness, but we're working together on this just like we have everything else. We really do work well together...on almost everything.

I visited Houston this past weekend and it was quite helpful. Some might consider it insane to drive for 14 hours on Friday night and then drive back for 12 hours on Sunday just to see people, but initially it was because I wasn't potentially going to see some of them all year and now it was because I desperately needed a sense of grounding, and it helped a lot. Family is a constant (at least as much as anything is a constant in the world) and it helps when you have good and loving relations with your family members. I hung out with Greg on Saturday, watching him play some of his games. One of them, Sins of a Solar Empire interested me quite a bit. Later that evening, we went over to Randy's new place and had dinner with Christy's family as well. It was quite fun. Simon taught me how not to hold a pool cue. I'm considering practicing a bit in the days and weeks ahead. Its a fun game and I think I might actually try to learn the higher end geometry elements of it (the bit with the dots on the side.) I listened to "The Lost Symbol" on the way up.

Monday night we watched Inglorious Bastards. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Tuesday I went to Jay's to get his help burning the DVD of "Other People's Musicals" which has come out quite well. I managed to remove all of the technical glitches that could be removed and it is by FAR the strongest I've made. Wednesday night I went to the final session of Jeff's D&D game. It was quite enjoyable, though the group is a bit large. There is still some discussion as to what will be done in the future.

An Ending.

2010-03-18T08:14:00.001-07:00

Jennifer and I will be filing our papers for divorce on April 30th, 2010. We do so parting as friends, and we are remaining in the same house for another month or two for financial and emotional reasons. While we love each other very much, there have been some issues at the foundation of our relationship that haven't quite matched. We've seen two counselors, and today our counselor was quite honest with us that this was a problem that he could not solve. We'll still be going to him a few more times to help make things as painless as possible.

I don't feel that the exact details of our relationship are fit for public consumption, but I will say that it is neither of our faults, that because of our backgrounds we had unresolved issues going into this and that one of the reasons we're going to the counselor and staying together a few more months is to help learn as many lessons from this as possible for the future.

We've been working on things for a year, so while this is still painful, I've had some time to come to terms with it. That by no means means I'm 'over' it, but it does mean that we can handle this in at least some resemblance of a rational fashion. Unlike previous relationships, Jennifer and I will remain friends, although how that friendship will manifest I'm not entirely sure. I don't really picture us 'hanging out' at all, but we still have a lot we need to work out.

All other projects, interests and considerations are on hold in life and (as they should be) must be reassessed. More details later as they are known and deemed to be shared.

Stuff

2010-03-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

Well let's see here. We celebrated our anniversary at one of my favorite restaurants, Bocca De Beppo. We also got some rather nice coupon and a free cup cake. I got Jennifer two matching "Peace Sign" ear rings and a necklace of the same, as well as a $40 gift certificate to DSW. Jennifer got me "A Gunslinger Born" a graphic novel set in Stephen King's 'Dark Tower' series, as well as the Player's Handbook II, which should come in very handy for the 4th edition Dungeon's and Dragons game I'm playing right now. She also got me a rather cool Plastic Knight and several small useful utility knick knacks which I like a lot. I still use the Swiss Army knife she got me for Christmas a while ago.

Friday night we went to Jay's birthday party, which was quite fun. We talked a lot with other people and I got to know the other Sentinel project members. Jay showed more footage from "Architects of Fear" which is quite frankly looking pretty kickass. Saturday I spent most of the day working on "Other People's Musical's" over at Jay's. He did the Color Correction and after effects. This bled over into over TWELVE HOURS worth of work on Sunday. The result is pretty amazing. It isn't in HD any more and we still have a few synch problems which I am hoping to correct this weekend, but as of now I have a functional movie that I can submit to the Atlanta Film Festival. The real question is if I can fix the sync issues before the due date next week. Otherwise it will have to wait until the screening on March 27th. I'm also refilming "Dueling Morons" but Julie's original edit job was so phenomenal that I'm looking to recreate it shot for shot.

Monday I had to recover from the weekend of intense work on the film and do the writing of what had been displaced by the film. I had a lot of things 'come due' at the same time, and spent the rest of the week catching up...which I've mostly managed to do at this point thank goodness. Wednesday I started up another dungeons and dragons game with some of my friends. We played at CCP, which is pretty cool since they make Eve Online and various World of Darkness pen and paper role playing games. Neat place to do an rpg.

Tonight we are hoping to see Alice.

4th Anniversary

2010-02-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

Today is Jennifer and my fourth anniversary. It has been an awesome four years. Tonight we're celebrating by going out to eat and then getting our mutual present, a Wii Fit board. We're giving each other a few other things. Jennifer gave me a lovely chocolate rose this morning. Marrying her was the best decision I ever made.

Week in Review

2010-02-21T20:09:00.001-08:00

Well last Sunday, Julie, Jennifer, Skip, Mom, Grandma and myself all celebrated Skip's birthday by going to the local Indian restaurant which had a buffet. It was quite nice, and we all got to talk a lot there and afterward. Before we also got to watch Skip play his "Lost Winds" game, and during we all played Wii Sports which was fun. The Wii is a extremely social game platform even for those who are casual or non gamers.

Early that day Jennifer and I checked out the local Universalist Unitarian Church. It was nice. The hymns were different than what I was raised with, but the music was neither too pop nor too late 16th century protestant reformation. It had just the right element of message, spiritualism, and ritual that I felt it appropriate and uplifted by it. It was also surprisingly not a negative experience in the slightest. Jennifer enjoyed it as well. We're considering returning in two weeks to investigate it again. I do want to investigate a bit about the creed of the organization, but given the other affiliations of some of those who condemn it, I consider that high praise. What I know certainly doesn't offend me.

Did an episode of the podcast again. Two short stories in a row. I've definitely come to the conclusion that I enjoy it more when I get others to read things I've written than my own reading. Some things only come out right when I read them but I think the best mix is when I write something tailored to an individual person; and I think that while the Red Anvil Podcast will always be a mix of both stories and poetry, I think that I get more emotional and creative satisfaction from the poetry.

The new job is AWESOME. I am an intermediate Tech Writer for Firethorn, which is a division of Qualcomm. I work in the UX Design department and my coworkers and boss are thus far very friendly and obviously intelligent and creative. The thing we're working on is a program called Swagg, which is an Iphone app that will basically incorporate all those loyalty cards cluttering up your wallet and put them virtually on your smart phone to free up space. There are few things else that it will do that are cool but I think those are more in flux and not as publicly revealed about what it does.

Over the weekend we saw Shutter Island, which was quite good. We celebrated the Dog's 10th birthday, which he enjoyed. He mainly enjoyed it because he got a lot of attention and my 'present' consisted of half a pound of random dog treats that we dumped on the floor to give him a complete smorgasbord of treats.

Recently Read: Inkdeath (liked)
We're Watching: The Wire (3rd Season), Farscape (Season 1), Supernatural Season 6, Lost, Burn Notice, Fring
I'm Reading: Iosorch, Rossam's Universal Robots (the Play)

The Happenings

2010-02-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

Well on Tuesday we celebrated Valentines Day early and saw Mamma Mia. It was rather good. We both enjoyed it. But boy was it cold getting there.

I'm sure you all have read about the snow that's affected Atlanta. We both went home early, most everyone was let out. But we still got home moderately early. We were going to see Percy Jackson and the Lightning thief, but instead watched more Farscape, which is as good as I remember it being. Also, there were clearly a few episodes we missed. The snow was gone by the afternoon and I was able to run my monthly gaming group. It also looks like we'll be restarting the bi weekly group (different group) up again fairly soon which should be awesome.

My last day at Suntrust was finished yesterday. Awesome place to work in some ways, my boss was great and offered to act as a reference in the future. The security was annoying but I did get to work in one of the great big data centers where they have the mainframes etc. That was a bit of a first for me..but I had like...multiple badges that I had to keep on me pretty much all of the time. All of that has now been handed back. The BATHROOMS were outside the main area and required a special code to get in. BATHROOMS?! It was also nice to be able to take Marta to work and go through a few hamster tubes to get to work.

What else? We played a few wii games over the weekend before last. We both enjoy Lego Star Wars, though the sections where there is no obvious way to progress are REALLY annoying. Challenges are one thing, trying to figure out what to do next with out a reasonably clear path are just...frustratingly stupid. Jay and Dee helped us with Other People's Musicals which is coming along nicely. THE COMPUTER OF DOOM IS FINALLY UP. It has a functional graphics card, and I've got some trial software that I'm editing and putting the movie together on. I'll be working more with Jay on Monday to finish it.

New Job

2010-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

The big news is that I finally have a new permanent job in Technical Writing, with a possibility of future Project Management potential. I will be working as a consultant with SESC, nominally to be hired directly after a year by Firethorn, which is a company of Qualcomm. It represents a considerable raise and excellent benefits. But most important of all, it looks to be an awesome place to work which will greatly value what I do. I start on Feb. 16th.

This has been a fun week and a half. We’ve done a lot in a relatively short period of time. Last week we celebrated my birthday, a lot. On Wednesday Jennifer and I made splenda cookies. We didn’t make very many of them but the ones we had were quite nice. For my birthday on Thursday we had dinner at a nice restaurant called Wildfire. It was kind of expensive but enjoyable nonetheless. Jennifer gave me three dress shirts, two ties, an electric razor (very handy) and three books (two of which short story collections inspired by HP Lovecraft. I think the sixth novel at this point is almost assuredly going to be supernatural horror or a conventional mystery).

Friday night we celebrated my birthday AGAIN with Mom, Skip, Grandma, Jennifer and myself. Skip cooked some of his excellent pasta with a very nice salad. We watched the final episode of “The Prisoner” and had some very interesting discussions of things. Saturday Jennifer and I went to see a movie at the Danish Film Festival called Terribly Happy, which was very interesting. It was billed as Twin Peaks like…and it certainly was. Sunday night we stayed home and did little of consequence, but we greatly enjoyed doing little of consequence because we were both kind of exhausted from the events of the previous week and several other things.

Better week

2010-01-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

This week Jennifer and I went to the Burns night held by a friend I play board games with (Eisen). It was awesome. I tried (sips) of 7 different kinds of Scotch but (for obvious reasons) I do not hold too much liquor and since I was driving home we left it that. I did learn that textually speaking Oban is a very nice brand though. I have also had Haggis, which....is actually pretty good. When the process was first described to me several years ago, I thought I would commit unholy violence on anyone that tried to get me to eat the stuff but its actually kind of like a meaty hash brown.

The other scottish food was nice. I have also discovered that I REALLY like Robert Burns as a poet. I can understand why the Scotts revere him so much. I also learned where "Of Mice and Men" (the title of the book of the same name) comes from. Jennifer made a trifle that was butterscotch and rasberry. She was worried at first but it came out awesome.

Friday night we celebrated Mom's birthday. We had chocolate cake and butter pecan ice cream. We all talked a lot and played wii games. I was moderately good. Skip and Jennifer were kick ass. I discovered that swearing at one's mii can be strangely cathargic.

I can finally get to my desk! My badge has the requisite permissions so that I can get to my cube. This is a short contract but it still has (theoretically) another 2 months so I can maintain the illusion I have a normal job and a normal career in the meantime. :)

Early January

2010-01-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

Well the last few weeks has been interesting. There were some complications in getting the tools I needed for my job, but my new Boss has been extremely diligent and helpful and getting them. I take the Marta downtown to work every day and walk through the same hotels that Dragon Con takes place in every year. Its kind of surreal really. There are also other conventions that go on. This last week was the NCAA. They made these poor people stand in the food court so people could go through the hamster maze of tunnels between hotels without getting lost.

Jennifer's cough has gotten a lot better. For a while it was lingering a dangerous length. More importantly, one of the drugs she takes, an absolute idiot said she had a 'reaction to the drug' even though she clearly didn't. I thought she should file a complaint with the FDA because Big Pharma might have infiltrated the drug company study group, but she had the saner approach. Doesn't mean I don't think she should still report it to the FDA.

One of the things that Jennifer gave me for Christmas was this day planner which is pretty kickass. It lets me plan exactly what I'm going to do each day well ahead of time. I'm still getting used to it, but the more time goes on, the better I am at fitting it in to my schedule.

I'm trying to simplify my life for a while. Doing this while still trying to complete my annual goals is a bit of a challenge but I think the real secret is in pacing. Fortunately, the planner helps with this.

Jennifer is greatly valued at her job. I am told (by her) that they might show it in a concrete way fairly soon. I'll give you more details as they come.

We've been relaxing a lot this weekend. As of tomorrow it will have been five years since we had our first date. Yesterday we had dinner at an excellent restaurant near us called Baldinos. Shame it isn't a national chain, but then again that make it lose some of its charm. Jennifer went with me to the YMCA and got her orientation in their programming. She likes it a lot.

Goals for 2010

2010-01-08T21:54:00.000-08:00

Physical: Go to the gym 2-3 days per week. 2 days of Cardio for 30-60 minutes each week. 2 days of weight training per week. Learn a martial art from Sept – December at the least.

Mental: Reading: 1 Non fiction book work mornings for 10 minutes. 1 Book on tape for transit times at a time. 1 Fiction book every 2 weeks.

Maintain all blogs at least once a week.

Find some kind of puzzle type thing that I actually like to increase my intelligence.

Social: Initiate at least 4 non game related social activities over the course of the year. Visit family at least once a month.

Maintain 2-3 social activities (can including gaming) on a weekly, bi weekly or monthly basis.

Continue Date Night Once a week.

Spiritual: Perform at least one act of community service a month.

Keep Listening.

Maintain daily prayer.

Finish reading the Dhampala. Start reading another spiritual work, finish it by the end of 2010.

Emotional: Say two positive things for every negative thing I say. Have more self confidence.

1rst: Finish the T7 project.

Maintain FCC once a week.

Maintain DM at least twice a month.

Maintain Monthly Blood of the Earth group.

2nd: Create monthly writing group with Rita and Julie. Complete 1 complete story per month.

Finish Novel 4 w. Ken.

Finish Novel 5 by the end of the year.

3rd: Finish/submit OPM this year. If successful, submit to at least 9 other festivals.

Create/Shoot 1 film by the end of the year.

Write or collaborate for at least two feature length or series scripts by the end of the year.

Either Finish the musical or produce a play.

4th: Either join the PMI –OR- establish a close relationship with BU Mentor.

Initiate 3 projects by the end of year, finish by

-Project: Hammerfel by April.

-Project: Bifrost by October.

-Project: Hydra by December.

Incidental:

Go to Dragoncon 2010

Go to Gencon 2010

Go to 20th year High School Reunion.

Go on Long weekend trip with Jennifer to NYC

Go on Long weekend trip with Jennifer to Florida.

Visit Family in Houston at least once.

Make preparations to go to Comicon 2011.

Make preparations to go to Europe 2011.

Make preparations to go to Family Reunion 2011.

Learn to shoot a Pistol – At least 25 hours of practice. Seek benchmarks.

Evaluate life goals and come up with a 5 year plan to obtain at least 6 things from the list or the equivalent thereof.

Obtain all 5 physical objects – Car, Tablet OR Flatscreen OR Internet capable television, Reserve, Pistols, Jennifer Lasik

Create and Fulfill the Zodiac.

Cross the Ocean (Metaphorically speaking)

Have a concrete plan (if applicable) for Project: Gemini.

Perform one major production for the podcast.

Year in Summary

2009-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

This year has both been awesome and it has sucked. Some goals were achieved, others not so much.

I was drugged out of my mind for a good chunk of Christmas since Jennifer and I were both sick, but we got better. Jennifer had to go to the doctor a second time because she got a sinus infection though. The current medication she's taking is helping a lot. I got a lot of nice Christmas presents including a small book with photoshopped animals with encouraging phrases, a shirt with a devil burying dinosaur bones that says 'teach the controversy', a book on how to make videos, a mole skin notebook for New York, a mole skin weekly planner, an MP3 player (which will make work MUCH more tolerable), and candy :)

Goal Review.

Physical: Reduce my weight to 225lbs. Losing 30lbs, at an average of 1800 calories a day for diet with 1-2 free days a month, exercising aerobically 4 times a week for 300 calories each session for 22.5 minutes, lifting weights 2 times a week using at least the 30 pound weights. Currently at 180 calories each session with the goal to raise 20 calories a week until I reach 300. The goal is to start with 1 weight lifting session in Jan and then adding another in Feb.

**Status. Fail on the weight. Succeed on the exercise. I've also joined the YMCA and going 2-4 times a week.

Mental: Read 1 Good non fiction book a month + 2 slowly over Wed. I plan to start with Fast Food Nation. The two slow books will be "Search Engine Marketing" and "Philosophy and Super Heroes."

**Status. Success. All books read. Plus many others that were worth reading.

Graduate Grad School with at least a 3.0 average (preferably with honors) in May.

**Status. Success.

Spiritual: Continue scripture study, prayer and other activities.

**Status. Prayer has continued. For now we are reading out of Jennifer's spiritual quote of the day book. Success.

Read at least one major spiritual work belonging to another religion.

**Status. In progress. Reading the Dhampala. Est completion two weeks.

Emotional: Be kinder. Have Less Anger.

**Status. Success.

Social: Get involved with a service project at least once a month starting in April.

**Status. Success. This has largely consisted of helping Mythic Journies and Grandma with her house. Not what I originally had in mind, but it has worked well and been quite fulfilling.

Writing:

Write a status update of all writing (prose) projects once a week.

**Status. Partial. Pretty darn good though.

Begin writing high fantasy in September of 2009, at 1000 words a day for four months to create 120,000 words for the novel so I can still have 100,000 words and cut 20,000 of them.

**Status. Partial. Only 16000 words written so far, but I'm not satisfied at all with it and may start from scratch.

Write 12 short stories, 1 every three weeks until then to flesh out the world. Outline the short stories here but write them off line so I can submit them for publication (Thus forcing me to improve the stories to publishing quality standards.)

**Status. Partial. 4 were written. Never submitted for publication.

I am also considering writing a science fiction story once a month, but I will wait until after Grad School in May 2009 to do this, which would make the goal to submit 7 non novel related short stories for publication in 2009.

**Status. Never started.

The novel short stories (fantasy) must NOT be part of the novel itself or involve its characters. This is designed to flesh out the world and make it more livable.

**Status. Success.

Film: Write two film scripts.

Status: Success. Other People's Musicals + Assist w. Architects of Fear.

Produce two films.

Status: Partial. Just one. Lack of funds + Chaos precluded.

Submit at least one of the two to a film festival this year. The film should be no shorter than 4 minutes and no longer than 10.

Status: Incomplete. Still being edited but it will be kickass when done.

Invention: Buy and read at least two Law School text books on Patent Law.

Status: Fail.

Economic: Maintain my job.

Status: Laid off twice, let go once by telephone. However, employed 8 out of 12 months in the technical writing field in the worst year since the Great Depression. I call that success.

Pay off more of Credit Card.
Status: Success.

Make preparations for child.
Status: N/A

Obtain 5 most important items as determined by Jennifer and I.
Status: 2 out of 5. Video Game Computer. Furniture. Funds have been severely limited.

Make Red Anvil Productions Gaming have its first profitable year.
Status: Success. By about $150.

Family: Improve relations. Be slightly less annoying.
Status: Success. (In my opinion.)

Friends: Have at least 3 non game related social events over the course of the year.
Status: Success.

Children: Have 1. Have all physical preparations made at least 2 months in advance of birth.

Status: N/A

Other:

Create at least one podcast a month (probably short stories already written)
Status: Success.

Create a fourth blog by March involving unknown quantity or subject for fun and/or profit.
Status: Success.

Create a group of new life goals by March.
Status: Partial. It took another 6 months.

Ensure that all selected items in the Christmas Coupon Book I gave Jennifer are delivered/fulfilled.
Status: Success. All but one and that one will be done tomorrow.

Go to Gencon 2009.
Status: Success.

Go to DragonCon 2009.
Status: Success.

Go to Boston for my Graduation.
Status: Success.

Learn to Juggle.
Status: Started to learn and after about 20 hours discovered, 'Why the HELL do I want to do this again?' I stopped. Total success.

Learn to Shoot a Pistol.
Status: Failure.

If Brett is sent to a Spanish Speaking Mission, Refresh and Brush up on my Spanish.
Status: Success.

Christmas Thoughts

2009-12-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

Tis midnight, and it is now Christmas. We attended two parties over the last weekend, one with Jay and Dee on Saturday and one with Jennifer's company. I admit that her company party was kind of hard for me, because I miss having a job that takes me seriously. Case in point, this last Sunday afternoon, RBS World Pay, a company who I thought I had a perfect working relationship with, called me up on the phone via my contractor to tell me that I would not need to come in for the last two weeks of my contract. I give them two weeks notice, and still had plenty of work to do, and they decide that I'm not needed.

Apparently turn about is not fair play. The thing is, that I have strong reason to believe that people who I had known for several years and trusted decided that they would let me go in this fashion. Thus is the life of a contractor.

We've also been quite sick this week. Jennifer has had some worrisome coughs, though we went to the doctor on Monday. She's been getting better for the most part, but it still isn't gone for either of us. And yet despite all of the negativity, I feel overwhelmingly positive. Want to know one reason? Because Jennifer Loves me and I love her. We each opened a present and the one I opened from her was this silly little book that had animal faces photoshopped into grins and smiles with all kinds of truly nauseating positive expressions.

And it cheered me up considerably. In the grant scheme of things, I have a lot to be grateful for. Hell, despite being let go early, I still have a job lined up at the beginning of the year that is going to pay me decently, for at least a few months. I have friends, family and a spouse that love me, and I have my health, as imperfect as it may be. :)

Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us, Every One.

Life

2009-12-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

Well I have a new job. I start on Jan 4th. It is a three month contract. I will be in my current contract until the end of the month so things are working out rather nicely. :) There are few snags on the wording of the contract which I'm a bit worried about, but they sent me an offer letter and I signed it. We'll see how things go. The weekend before last we saw The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was quite good. This past weekend I ran my shadowrun game (the third installment.) Sunday we watched a lot of TV and had a very relaxing day. Last night Julie, Mom, Jennifer and I went to watch Niel Gaiman read from two of his books and get some autographs. It was awesome. He autographed EVERY single person's book. There were over 600+ people there. We were toward the end of the line and got out at around 1am.

Thanksgiving Etc

2009-12-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was a nice break. Didn't do much, which was just they way I like it. Jennifer and her mother went shopping most of Friday so I had the whole day to myself. Surfed some on the net, but also finished reading Conversations with God and The Unbehead King trilogy. Saturday we saw 2012. Bleh. I will say this though, Joyce lays down a MEAN Thanksgiving day table. It was delicious. The turkey was the best I have had in years. It was Jennifer, myself, Joyce (my mother in law), Dick (her husband), and two of their friends who lived near by. There was also football watched. I am not a football fan, but I watched with them to be social. Despite some misgivings about A&M, I was still pleased that they performed as well as they did against UT. Right now I consider myself more an alumni of Boston University than any other school (that is, it hasn't kicked me out because I missed a single test or made me so angry I would want to spit nails at faster than the speed of sound)...but I never physically attended...and so far as I know, they have no major sports teams. But the more I find out about them, the more I like them. I attended an alumni networking event recently that was quite cool.

This week has been redonkulously busy. Monday night I played board games at a friend's house. Tuesday night I ran a MUSH event on the internet and last night I went to a Christmas party for the people I did the grant writing for (Mythic Imagination Institute)...but there must have been some kind of miscommunication because no one was there...'s OK really, I brought the chips for the potluck home and Jennifer and I ate them. :) Wednesday, I spent the night with Ken hammering out the last portion of the 4th novel.

The job market is definitely improving. I've had a lot of recruiters contact me recently. I think that might be why my current contract has been extended again to Feb 30th. I guess they (mostly) want to keep me. There are a few other issues I won't disclose on a public blog (yet anyway) but I get along great with my boss and my boss's boss.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

Things are going fairly well. The trip down to Florida was long due to traffic but otherwise went fairly well. My contract has also been extended until Jan 29th, which is a good thing. The dog seems to be enjoying himself. Joyce cooked a remarkably excellent Thanksgiving dinner. The bird and potatoes were just right. Jennifer seems to be enjoying herself immensely.

Looks to be a nice and relaxing vacation, which will engender no complaints from me. :) Last weekend was also moderately uneventful, though I did go to Augusta with Mom and Grandma to help clear Grandma's house. It will take some time but we made a dent in it.

Update

2009-11-19T17:45:00.001-08:00

So its been an interesting two weeks. I think the first thing that bears mentioning is that I was on television yesterday. That is not entirely correct. I was taped for television yesterday and it will appear next week. It was on a local cable access show at Clarke University for a show they have called ‘Reel Cinema’. I was invited by J. Weilin (creator of the Sentinel Chronicles) to answer a few questions as Sr. Writer. It is rather fun. I gave him a ride home and we discussed how to flesh out some of the ideas and back story in his universe. Madeline (who was in my short film “Other People’s Musicals”) and Sophia (who is Madeline’s friend and an actor in the SC) were there as well. If I can find the thing broadcast on the internet, I’ll send the link.

The good news is that my current contract has been extended, though only to December 4th. The better news is that I’m getting calls from recruiters at a time of year when I normally never get calls. Now, I’m not entirely sure if it is because I’m getting better at searching, I’m attracting more attention because I’ve got more credentials, or simply because the environment is better. To be honest, what I think it really is is that most companies saw the hand writing on the wall at the beginning of the year and have been in deep storage (“siege”) mode during 2009, and have thus put off ‘optional’ things like Technical Writing and now the work has piled up. The truth is, about half of the jobs in my career have resulted from people piling up the tech writing in the ‘wait’ category until its coming out their ears. It quite often makes a lot more sense in the long run to simply keep one either on contract (as needed) or on staff full time.

However, I am still trying to get out of tech writing and into project management. The good news is that I’ve had recruiters approach me, but the bad news is that most of the things they’re approaching me for require experience. To get the PMP they want 3 years of experience in a project based environment. Yeah, I have one, while I was at Openspan. The others might have used projects but I wasn’t involved in them. So right now I’m drawing up the blue prints for around five projects helping others that at the same time will help myself. Four of them could theoretically earn money and one of them will be for charity. I’ll include more details as they come up. I’m almost tempted to start writing a Project Management blog on linked in, or to continue that “Pulling Teeth Electronically” blog I had to do for my ecommerce class, but …well…here is my list of current blogs and you tell me if that is a wise idea.

This blog (Weekly)
My live journal (As I feel the need to rant)
My Obama blog. (As I feel the need to rant about the media)
My Dailykos blog (As I feel the need to rant about specific things in a targeted way)
Let Me Tell you about my Character (For roleplaying game summaries and the like, about every two weeks)
Tossing Grenades at Windmills (my writing blog)
Memes of my Father (my strange/quirky things blog or where I put memetic answers)
I have an Opinion About Almost Everything (my review blog)
State of the Anvil (The Red Anvil Productions blog, as needed plus the monthly podcast plus updating the website)

So that is…9. Yeah, as tempting as it is to make an even 10, I think I’ll pass. Plus I should have something to write about in this. I mean, I put links to reviews I write, but I don’t put political stuff, roleplaying stuff, reviews, writing updates, product updates or the like here…then again, most of that would probably bore you to tears anyway so its probably just as well that I do so…

Plus one of the ways I get away with juggling so many different things is fooling myself into thinking its not really that much…breaking it into small chunks which I do here.

We celebrated Grandma’s birthday last night. Mom, Skip, myself, Jennifer, Grandma and Mom’s friend Daniel were there. We watched Up. Did I mention that it is an awesome movie? Jennifer and I gave Grandama a copy of Redwall (which is about a talking Mouse) which I am quite sure she’ll love.

This past weekend, Jennifer and I went out to eat a rather nice Persian restaurant. The food was fairly cheap. It had to be since we’re watching what we spend. Many of our gifts will be hand crafted this year (though not all of them of course). But I’ve discovered that I LIKE Persian Food and Thai food as much as I like Mexican and Italian. To be honest, most far Asian stuff or Mediteraian just doesn’t do it for me. Its not that I dislike it, its just that I have to carefully navigate to find what I like. Not so with Thai or Persian. I have to go out of my way to find something I don’t.

This week

2009-11-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well it has been quite a week. I think the most shocking thing was the death of my paternal grandmother. Most of Wednesday was a scramble to find a way to pay for a ticket. Unfortunately, I’m currently in a very short term contract which meant that I had to watch the numbers very carefully. Finally, it became apparent that it just wasn’t going to happy. The even greater irony was that my maternal grandmother was willing to pay for the ticket, but I didn’t find out about that until Thursday, which meant that my ability to make up the lost hours during the week was effectively shot. I was willing to have her pay for the ticket given the circumstances (although reluctantly since having helped Grandma with her house situation I know that wasn’t an easy sacrifice for her to make) but I was not going to have her do that AND pay to make up the hours I would lose if I flew in on Friday.

Which meant that we pretty much kept up plans as usual on Saturday. I mean, on the one hand, it was fun going to two Halloween parties. And they were good parties. On the other hand, it was kind of surreal going and celebrating a relatively minor (and certainly not to me Spiritual (though I know it is to others)) holiday and at the same time my extended family is gathered on the other side of the country mourning and celebrating my grandmother’s life. I tried to do the ‘I’m enjoying life to celebrate her death’ thing but that’s kind of hard since, while Grandma certainly enjoyed her life, she was not exactly what I might call a “Carpe Dium” kind of woman, at least not in her later years where I knew her. They certainly traveled a lot, which was fascinating to hear the anecdotes from.

The most interesting thing to come out of the two parties we did attend was seeing the first episode of the Sentinel Chronicles’s second season. Jay is very talented, as are many of the people that work with him, but you can SEE the differences between Season 1 and Season 2. By Jay’s own admission, he spent over 250 hours in post production. Granted, this was mainly from special effects of things like Shell Casings, but the thing is, that ironically they’re mostly things you take for granted or that slip into the background. Case (no pun intended) in point…the shell casings from the guns? CGI. Also, sometimes the scenes flash by so fast that you don’t realize that one of the two sides fighting are CLONES, which means that he had to literally imprint the same actor three times onto the screen. Then again, the best special effects, particularly CGI effects makes the special effects flow into the background so the story itself can be paramount.

The second party, a white wolf international Camarilla event, had an amazing floor show. It also had an extremely celebratory atmosphere and I admit I did enjoy dancing with Jennifer while we were there. I dressed as a Mad Scientist and Jennifer dressed as Nyx, Greek goddess of the night. I still need to get a picture of her costume on here.

Currently Reading : Conversations with God, The Clocks of Iruz

Currently Watching: Supernatural Season 3

Focha Ricks

2009-10-27T15:52:00.001-07:00

Focha Ricks, my paternal grandmother, died last night. She died in her sleep and she was surrounded by loved ones. She had slowly lost a bit of her memory, I am told, in her latter years. I was happy to be able to help my family (my Father and his children) make a video to remind her about who were are and tell her that we love her at our last family reunion. It had been about 6 years since I last saw her.

I think that the first lesson she taught me was the importance of record keeping. Grandma used to maintain the family circle letters like clock work. Some memories are worth keeping. Half the blogs I keep, I keep for my own records, not necessarily because anyone reads them. These family circle letters also taught me the importance of family gatherings and family rituals. I was raised to believe family’s are eternal and are one of the only things that last in the world. I still hold family to be of paramount importance.

Her letters always talked about the meals that she ate in great detail. This taught me a lot of things. It taught me the importance of putting details into the writing I do, finding little anecdotes and latches that help people connect with it. It also, ironically, helped me understand the importance of enjoying a good movie. Despite the speed at which I eat my meals, I do enjoy their taste and do what I can to relish the experience as an experience itself. Its part of enjoying life for what it is.

Grandma Ricks put great stock in the importance of her pioneer ancestors. She was a direct descendant of Edward Partidge, one of the founding leaders of the Mormon church. At many family reunions we were told tales about the great things our ancestors did. This taught me about the importance of passing on traditions and oral family lore. It also taught me to respect those who have come before us and to recognize the great sacrifices that they have made. This in turn has helped me to understand the importance of history. Even now, when I study a thing, I first study its history. Knowing about the history of a person or organization helps you put it in the proper context of everything else it does.

Grandma was a powerful woman, but also a quiet one. She was, beyond doubt, a stoic. This taught me that sometimes finding the diplomatic solution to solve a problem will get more results than a more belligerent approach. I might not always remember this lesson, but it is nevertheless an important one to me. Grandma also taught me the importance of equity and dependability with her Christmas gifts. I was rather surprised to learn that they didn’t always receive Thank You’s when they sent them, but I was glad that I had been able to do so.

Most important of all, I am glad that I got to know her, both as a youth and in my second awakening of Adulthood. All of my many selves have respected her and the role that she has been able to play in her life and in family affairs. She is worthy of respect and will be missed.

Last Weekend

2009-10-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a lot of fun in North Georgia . We had planned the cast party for “Other People’s Musicals” on Sunday night, so we decided to make a weekend of it in North Georgia . Once I dropped Thunder off at Wag A Lots Saturday, Jennifer carefully looked for a hotel for us to stay in. This proved no easy task since almost all of them were full. She managed to find a really good one for around $70 a night, when most of them were going for at a minimum $150 a night. When we got there we took the evening pretty light. Just enjoying a chance of pace. We went out to eat at Schlotskies, which we both liked a lot. Then we read and then slept. Right now Jennifer is reading “Celtic Blood” about Gaelic vampires. Bram Stoker and a lot of the original vampire writers were all heavily influenced in Ireland , and apparently the earliest legends of vampires occur in Ireland . Sounds like an interesting book. I’m reading “Conversations with God” which was lent to me by Rita Moore (one of the two people that helped us meet) and “The Reluctant King” by L. Spring Decamp. When I’m done I’ll post a review on the review blog.

Sunday we had a continental breakfast. I was really tired because I’d been fighting evil things in my dreams…note…this was not a nightmare. I was kicking their imaginary…asterisks…and took a nap later to finish the job. We had lunch in Helen Georgia at the Troll Tavern, which is awesome. I had the Spaghetti and Meatballs and Jennifer had the sampler which was authentic German cuisine. We wandered around the town which is both beautiful and awesome. We skipped the Live Tarantula museum. I’m really mixed on that. I mean, on the one hand, it’s a live tarantula museum. How often do you get a chance to see one of those? At the same time …FRACKING SPIDERS….so….maybe next year. Then we got Funnel Cake with ice cream at Grandma’s Funnel Cakes. They were quite delicious. We ended up buying a tiny glass dragon figuring for only around $15, which made me feel better for not being able to get any art at Dragoncon this year due to budgetary concerns. It had a little light up stand, though when we took it home we declined to use it because apparently it highlights the phallic imagery in the castle the dragon is wrapped around that isn’t quite as apparent when it is just in normal daylight. It does look awesome though. We drove around and looked at the beautiful mountains and beautiful leaves.

Later that night, we went to the Singer’s house. Janie, Patrick, Rita, Jennifer, myself and the Singers were able to make it. They had an amazing log cabin house, modified off a template on the internet. It’s the kind of place you always imagine living in some day, and they actually did it. The food was amazing, a combo of barbeque and Philipino food. We then wrapped up the evening by singing from “Professional Karioke X”. The secret was staying on key at the end and volume. As you might imagine….I did rather well. Jennifer’s first song didn’t go so well but her second “Puff the Magic Dragon” got an excellent score.

Other things: We’re watching Heroes….moderately interesting. The Carnival of Doom might be cool or it might be stupid. But we’re hanging in there to see where it goes. We have TWO Netflix disks for supernatural right now because I shut down my movie queue (in part because I have a job now) and shifted the disk to the TV show queue. Supernatural is *AWESOME* as a show.

I have a job

2009-10-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

Albeit a very short one. The contract is only for 4-6 weeks, and by the tone of the interview, I suspect that it will only be four weeks, but it is work and will help make Christmas a little more enjoyable this year. I am supposed to start this Thursday. The really good news is that it is at the best place I've ever worked before and I'll be quite busy. I always enjoy an assignment when I'm up to my eyeballs in stuff to do and can really push myself to the limit.

We saw Zombieland this last Friday and enjoyed it quite a bit. While the world is not perfect, it could be worse. Jennifer is enjoying her job quite a bit, and I'm taking time to enjoy the little things in life.

The Movie is Done

2009-09-29T15:04:00.001-07:00

It was a lot of work but we finally finished filming the movie over the weekend. There were about 17 people involved, which makes it the most complicated one we've ever done. We were on set for 10.5 hours over two days with an hour and a half of footage. Lesson learned? I need to keep my craptacular self out of the shots with my #@$@#$#@ boom stick. Fortunately, we still got a lot of good footage despite my attempts to utterly ruin it.

No luck on the job search. I've had a lot of blank times, and lots of people are unemployed now. The difference is that I have gotten exactly TWO phone calls in the last 4 weeks. Bear in mind that normally this is THE best time of the year to find a job. There are almost no jobs out there. And we are one month away from the cold season which typically lasts from November through Jan....Feb is usually not good though which means the earliest a likely job is looking like is...March.

Fun.

Otherwise things go well. I've been a bit defocused but I'm getting back into the groove of things this week and hope to restart a lot of projects that had been temporarily waylaid. We'll see how that goes.

Good News and Bad News

2009-09-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

The bad news is that the job search suddenly went from promising to void. As you know I measure the strength of the economy and the job market by the number of calls I get. Today marks the official two month mark in my search and while things were great right before Dragoncon, I haven't gotten a SINGLE call since then. Usually I'm at least getting calls for jobs in New Jersey or the like that I'm not available to take. At the two month mark I lower my salary requirements slightly and do so on a monthly basis thereafter until I reach my absolute minimum. We'll see how this turns out but since in my experience September is THE best time of the year to find a job, its not a good sign.

The good news is that the rehearsal for the movie went well yesterday. People are enthusiastic and seem to be enjoying themselves. My writing is very slow but progressing.

This week

2009-09-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

Dragon Con was a lot of fun. We were able to prepay the hotel room and the ticket which meant that it was a very nice vacation at a time when we needed it. Thursday night was the first night we stayed at a hotel there which helped give us more time on Friday since most of the other times we've gone to Dragoncon, Friday morning was always hectic. Jennifer got pictures and we hope to put them up soon.

Some highlights include:

*A neat panel with Nimoy and Shatner Friday morning. Shatner is a total attention hog but was cool at the same time. Nimoy was rather zen the whole time. Interesting questions.

*Felicia Day was in the Dollhouse panel which was quite packed. I think we may see more Dollhouse guests next year.

*Warehouse 13 also had a lot of people though it had no guests. The panels with a lot of fans talking to each other generally just aren't as interesting.

*A rather cool panel with Michael Stackpole and other podcast authors that gave me some good insights into putting my own novels on podcast. I'm considering doing so but haven't decided the exact way I'm going to do it. Might establish a second podcast which is ....yeah. Too many blogs already. Logistics have yet to be decided, but apparently putting a novel in podcast form doesn't (according to them anyway) interfere with the ability to sell it...and considering my luck selling it anyway....We'll see.

*Went to the parade for the first time this year. It was awesome. Even if you don't go to dragoncon, this should be an annual event for anyone seriously into sci-fi/fantasy. It was quite fun and its totally free.

*Gave blood for the first time this year at Dragon Con. Vaccinations and foreign travel plus other circumstances prevented me before. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

*Masquerade was cool but not as cool as years past.

*Steam punk is in vogue. So much so that I'm making my next novel Steam Punk...of course....I'm only vaguely aware of what steam punk is, so it is a bit blind. That and I do like retro tech which helps in this case. It might end up being something more like "Tompunk"....

*Saw Pete Abrams at a panel. He does the comic Sluggy Freelance. It was very interesting. :)

*Saw a lot of rather cool short films. The production value on the films they show at Dragoncon are just...light years beyond what I can do, but I still intend to do them. We'll see how Other People's Musicals comes out. So far it is on track.

*Jennifer had a LOT of fun at the Oragami panels.

*Jennifer also enjoyed seeing Draco Malfoy, who is apparently a pretty cool guy.

*There were lots of Twilight fans there due to the guy who played the lead in the movie being there, but they didn't really cross my path, which is just as well.

*Seeing a live performance of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog in a room with 2000 screaming Whedonites is just plain awesome.

*Jennifer's costume was also awesome.

Link to a political post

2009-09-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

Without going into details, here is a link to my political blog about a video given to me by my friend Ken Lightner that I think sums up the current discussion (or lack thereof) quite well.

Life

2009-09-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

I had a phone interview today and another interview scheduled next week. But with the economy being the way it is, who can tell? I heard back from my recruiter and apparently I slam dunked the interview I had last week but they are still not sure which way they want to go. And that's a government contractor, which tells me that even if I have a lot of interviews that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I have too many second hand accounts from family and friends from all of the companies that are in absolute turtle mode until 2010.

We'll see.

In a related note, I am quite happy for a personal issue that has recently been partially solved. I won't go into details but suffice to say it was worrying me greatly and now it isn't.

Fortunately we'd gotten the Dragoncon tickets early (ie when I had a job) which makes the whole impending vacation affordable. It happens to be right here in Atlanta which helps too. :) More details will probably be posted during the weekend.

Return

2009-08-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Well we went to Gencon last week. Jennifer spent two of the three days visiting with her father and step family while I was at Gencon. On Friday we did some events together. Thursday kind of sucked because I thought I had lost my bag which had a character for an event that I'd been preparing for for months. I was able to replace most of what I needed but it still wasn't quite the same. As such I was kind of down for most of Thursday but things picked up on Friday with Jennifer.

Jennifer finally learned how to play Killer Bunnies. We also played a Dungeons and Dragons game called "A Fist Full of Clerics" but by far the most fun we had was playing a larp called "The Dragon of Feldra." We both had characters that fit well. It was a small event, but it was Jennifer's first time doing a Larp and she enjoyed it. For those of you who are not familiar with what a larp is, thing "Dungeons and Dragons" meets "How to Host a Murder Mystery."

The drive back went largely without incident. I'm still trying to help Grandma with her house. Last week Mom and Skip did a lot more than I've done so far in terms of getting some people to clean the front. Mom and I had gone to clean out the cat room and some other things. We're nearly at a point where we can have some packers come in and put some stuff in Storage. That should be helpful.

One step at a time.

The job search goes well. I had my first interview Thursday, and haven't heard anything. They were supposed to make a decision yesterday which means I probably didn't get the job, but in the three weeks since my job at Cox ended I've had four placements which is pretty good. We'll see how things turn out.

Life

2009-08-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Well things have been busy. The main project right now is helping Grandma with her house. Yesterday, Grandma, Mom and I went and emptied the house of a lot of trash which we put into a dumpster we'd rented for that purpose. We also removed the mattress from and cleaned much of the dreaded Catroom. Suffice to say that upon arriving home I removed all clothing and put it in its own special wash to avoid special friends that might have accompanied me.

Job market isn't great right now, but I am getting calls from recruiters. Mainly though it is for lower paying positions. Might have gotten TOO experienced at tech writing, which means the transition to project management was probably at the right time. Of course, it takes experience to get a job and get experience, but I've got a few ideas. Mainly, I've been thinking bout starting a small business for a while....I can hire myself as project manager. I need 3 years of experience to get my PMP which is really the key to getting Project Management work.

So, I've also realized that I've accomplished most of my original life goals. The only two remaining are become a father and see the Louvre. So I made up a new list.

0. Become a father.
1. See the Louvre.
2. Travel around the world on a way way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
3. Learn a martial art.
4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.
6. Start seven businesses.
7. Learn a musical instrument.
8. Sculpt something memorable.
9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.
11. Write seven novels.
12. Produce a musical based on Simon Bolivar.
13. Go on a cruise.
14. Organize a convention (ideally one based on Sci fi)
15. Invent a card game.
16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)
17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
18. Have a room with a secret passage
19. Learn electronics (ideally a remote controlled object or robot battles robot)
20. Gain 3 patents.
21. Own a self sufficient piece of land (energy, food, light manufacturing)
22. Go on a cruise.
23. Be in a guerrilla musical dance number.
24. Help in a local political campaign (meaningfully)
25. Set up a treasure hunt for after I die. A real one.
26. Live the fifth life (who knows what)
27. Ditto the sixth.
28. Ditto the seventh.

If the right door opens.
29. Kept to myself.
30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.
31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.
32. Buy my own island.
33. Establish technological reboot centers.
34. Create a national movement to reform the electoral system.
35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.
36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.
37. Create an institution dedicated to the study of Narcolepsy.
38. "" Neurological regeneration.
39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.
40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.
41. Create a school system based on my ideas of education.
42. Create a wide range of nuclear desalination plants on the west coast.
43. Breed dogs to live twice as long with higher intelligence (ie uplift)

All I've thought of for now.

The Two Edged Sword of Emotion

2009-07-31T13:42:00.001-07:00

God has given me many talents. I have a desire to express poetry and to work to find the true story of something. When I am in an interview, one of the most common questions I ask when we get to the "Do you have any questions?" part, is that I like to ask a bit about the history of the project and the company if they haven't already gone over it (though more and more these days they are as part of the 'info dump' part of the interveiw.)

It is this trait that lets me be a writer and walk in worlds that never were. Through role playing games, I've been able to save the world a few dozen times now. I think we'll all agree that the odds of my doing that in the real one are rather...slim.

But what is a strength can be a weakness. The dramas created in my mind can be painful at times, despite the increasing strength of my reason. Rationally, I am entirely aware of the fact that I've been unemployed before, and that I will again, and that I will get another job. By basic probability it should be within one or two months, three or four if you include tough economic times. The longest has been six. Yes, we're in a depression right now, but one can find work in a depression.

The true problem though isn't the anticipated distance between jobs, but rather this vague murmering belief in the back of my mind that somehow I've offended all of my recruiters and previous employers and that somewhere there is a blacklist somewhere of people not to hire and my name is on it.

There is no rational basis for this belief, and more importantly, at least I am capable of recognizing that it is there, but that doesn't make it any less painful to beat down on a regular basis.

Aside from that, things are going quite well. I've got a lot of projects and a lot of drive to get them done. The more I can focus on them while still searching for a job, the more I can tamp down delusions of paranoia. :)

Last night Jennifer and I went to an excellent concert featuring the Wiyos, Willie Nelson, John Melancamp and Bob Dylan. Jennifer got the tickets at the beginning of the month. I liked them all but you'd but amazed to find that my favorite was actually the cover band you've never heard of before (the Wiyos.) Dylan was hard to understand, but appearantly he's always hard to understand and you can hear more in a man's voice than the words he says.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

2009-07-22T13:41:00.001-07:00

On paper, things should be going badly right now. What with my job ending in a week and a half, family members being in health distress and financial distress, the winds of politics and current events things appear more and more dire. But slowly, ever so slowly, I am wrapping my passion in a blanket and directing the fires of my soul into an engine of reason which will grant me great and relentless power.

We shall see what we shall see.

Life

2009-07-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Watched this Weekend: Year One, Terminator Salvation, Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Contiuum

Read: Backup

Reading: Superheroes and Philosophy, Nation by Terry Pratchet

Jennifer and I are in a dance class. Last wednesday night we changed from Swing to Salsa, which Jennifer definitely likes. Also unlike Swing, I've never taken it before, which is good in that I don't have to unlearn anything, but more difficult in that I have to learn a whole bunch of new stuff the first time.

We went on our date night to the Drive In, which is the perfect place to see movies you wouldn't want to pay for at full price at the normal theater. One of the funnest things was the audio they played of these corny old food commercials from the 1950's, like the guy with the german accent who says that he has invented the 'food vending machine' and then proceeds to list all of the things it serves. One has to wonder what the world would be like if they talked like they do in commercials. Probably quite frightening.

All in all it was a pretty relaxing weekend, which given how busy we have been was a nice change of pace. Of course, since we don't have children, I understand 'not busy' to be a relative thing comparitively speaking but still, it was nice to relax. We watched a lot of DVD's from netflix over the weekend. We definitely like Supernatural.

Jennifer had been having some trouble getting some medication from our insurance company, but they finally approved it. While no insurance company has been perfect, given the three we've dealt with in the last two years, we've had the most positive experience by far with Principal. If you ever get to choose who your insurance provider is, you might consider them.

Happenings this Week

2009-07-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well given the havok that is occuring in the lives of friends and family, I feel positively lucky. Nothing that has happened to us even compares to brain surgery or major gastrointestinal malfunction. :/ There was some potential tension re: my job, since my boss is moving to another department at the end of the month, but according to her there is no reason to believe that my contract will end any time before November when its supposed to. Hopefully all will go well.

We had an extremely busy weekend. Jennifer's mother, Joyce, was in town to celebrate her birthday. Thursday night we went to see Public Enemy which was pretty good. Jennifer and Joyce spent most of Thursday shopping at various places, including at BJ's to get a replacement microwave for the one we had that became fragged ala Half Life 2.

Friday Jennifer treated her mother to a day spa, which was quite nice for the two of them. They got massages, manicures and pedicures. While they were doing that I played Civilization IV with Greg and Jason (a friend of ours in Houston who works with Greg.) I think Civilization is the ultimate Ant Farm game, but its still fun to me. Friday night we went to the Shakespear Tavern and saw the Mystery of Irma Vepp, which was quite skillfully done. It was a little antiquated, but the humor was still relatively good and we definitely enjoyed it.

Saturday we spent most of the day with Mom, Skip and Grandma. We watched Bolt, ate dinner and then walked half way to downtown to see the fireworks. We had brought some items, grandma provided a fruit tart, and Skip's assembly of sandwich components was excellent. Though the roast beef had come fresh from the farmer's market and with the juices etc, one could understand how it makes vegetarians unpleased.

Sunday we had a much more relaxed time. We spent most of the time lounging around the house. I played some Civ IV, and read some. I finished the latest Feist book I was reading, Rides a Dread Legion in fairly short order. The evening was fairly quiet as we watched yet another episode of the extremely safe and inane arthurian hackjob that is Merlin. It is fun, but they've Smallvilled Camelot to the point that the original story is best left at the door. Just pretend that it only vaguely resembles hundreds of years of story telling (which it does) and you'll be more or less fine. Occasionally it can be frustrating as Merlin acts like a complete and total idiot, but his heart is in the right place, even if his brain isn't. We liked Supernatural a lot better and I'm sorry we haven't been watching it up until now. Its quite good. I originally thought it was Fred and Fred take action in live action Scooby Doo but it isn't that at all.
I think the pitch line I read on their wikipedia page "Luke Skywalker and Hansolo drive a cadilac from Route 66 and drive all over the country fighting monsters" is pretty accurate.

Later this week, we saw Charlie Bartlet. Jennifer is extremely busy with crunch time at work, so last night I finished two more episodes in my podcast for Red Anvil. On the whole, things are going quite well for us and we are grateful for what we have while we have it.

Goal Check

2009-07-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Physical: Reduce my weight to 225lbs. Losing 30lbs, at an average of 1800 calories a day for diet with 1-2 free days a month, exercising aerobically 4 times a week for 300 calories each session for 22.5 minutes, lifting weights 2 times a week using at least the 30 pound weights. Currently at 180 calories each session with the goal to raise 20 calories a week until I reach 300. The goal is to start with 1 weight lifting session in Jan and then adding another in Feb.

Status: Exercise is very succesful. Dieting not so much. Two months of unemployment was not kind. Revised goal for the end of the year is 240lbs.

Mental: Read 1 Good non fiction book a month + 2 slowly over Wed. I plan to start with Fast Food Nation. The two slow books will be "Search Engine Marketing" and "Philosophy and Super Heroes."

Status: Non fiction goal: On track. All read but the Philosophy of Superheroes, which is still on my queue before the end of the year.

Graduate Grad School with at least a 3.0 average (preferably with honors) in May.

Status: Completed.

Spiritual: Continue scripture study, prayer and other activities.

Status: Scripture study: Meh.

Prayer: On track.

Other Activities: On track. Working to begin doing RFP's for charities to help them earn money, starting with Mythic Journies.

Read at least one major spiritual work belonging to another religion.

Status: Not yet started. Est to begin this month. Probably something Buddhist. In fact, probably the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Emotional: Be kinder. Have Less Anger.

Status: Seems to be on track.

Social: Get involved with a service project at least once a month starting in April.

Status: Delayed, but still planned. Countered this with helping Grandma with House of Damoclese.

Writing: Covered on the Writing Blog.

Status: Short stories: Not on track. Novels: On track.

Film: Write two film scripts. Produce two films, one directed by Mom and one directed by Jennifer. Submit at least one of the two to a film festival this year. The film should be no shorter than 4 minutes and no longer than 10.

Status: First script written. First meeting for first film scheduled. Replacing film directed by Mom to podcast. Poem for podcast completed. Second film will likely be a reshoot of "Dueling Morons."

Invention: Buy and read at least two Law School text books on Patent Law.

Status: Not yet initiated.

Economic: Maintain my job. Pay off more of Credit Card. Make preparations for child. Obtain 5 most important items as determined by Jennifer and I.

Status:

Job: Failed, but beyond my control. New job obtained.

Credit Card: Not by the end of year but paying off.

Child: Delayed.

More Important Items: 1.5 obtained. 2 by the end of the month. 5 by the end of September.

Make Red Anvil Productions Gaming have its first profitable year.

Status: On track.

Family: Improve relations. Be slightly less annoying.

Status: On track.

Friends: Have at least 3 non game related social events over the course of the year.

Status: If you include the writing group: Completed. Otherwise 0 for 3. 1 on the schedule. 1 more planned. 1 not yet at all determined.

Children: Have 1. Have all physical preparations made at least 2 months in advance of birth.

Status: Delayed for at least one year.

Other:

Create at least one podcast a month (probably short stories already written)

Status: Done. And on track.

Create a fourth blog by March involving unknown quantity or subject for fun and/or profit.

Status: Complete.

Create a group of new life goals by March.

Status: Failed. Hope to create new list by the end of July.

Ensure that all selected items in the Christmas Coupon Book I gave Jennifer are delivered/fulfilled.

Status: On track. 8 out of 15 completed. 9 out of 15 by the end of the day.

Make arrangements for Jan 3, 2010 Tolkien's Birthday LOTR Marathon Party.

Status: Not yet complete.

Go to Gencon 2009.

Status: On track. Reservations made.

Go to DragonCon 2009.

Status: On track. Reservations made.

Go to Boston for my Graduation.

Status: Completed.

Learn to Juggle.

Status: Not yet begun.

Learn to Shoot a Pistol.

Status: Delayed until September.

If Brett is sent to a Spanish Speaking Mission, Refresh and Brush up on my Spanish.

Status: Not yet started.

This week

2009-06-24T12:22:00.001-07:00

We saw the Diving Bell and the Butterfly over the weekend. For dinner on date night we ate at a Thai restaurant, but because we recently got a new computer and a few other things, we're trying to be somewhat frugal about how we do things, especially with a few up coming expenses this summer that have yet to be taken care of.

I was looking forward to the Transformer's movie, but I don't think I'm going to see it. Its the same reason I didn't see the Star Wars clone movie last year. Well, kind of. See for the Star Wars movie it was "Hutt Baby" and the assorted descriptions of it that made me realize it would be worse than phantom menace. For Transformers that would be "Robot Testacles".....I don't think I need to see a movie with Robot Testacles in it.

Jennifer and I are on a major health kick, but hers is a lot more effective than mine at the moment. I might need to do a bit less exercise and a bit more dieting. We'll see how things go tomorrow. I've been doing a lot of reading lately, which has been nice.

Last Sunday we spent father's day with Skip, Mom, Grandma and Julie. It was fun. We ate at the 'thumb's up' cafe. Then we hung out and talked for a lot after that. Later, I called Dad and Jennifer talked to her father and step father.

Progress Marches On

2009-06-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

We had a relaxing weekend at home. We burned through four netflix disks, including Lost Season 4, Madmen, Gone Baby Gone and Connections 2. They were all quite good. We also got a lot of house work done; cleaning up, washing dishes, washing clothes, clearing the yard etc.

For date night, we ate dinner at Boca de Beppo (quite good) and watched The Hangover. We had originally wanted to see a new movie that's come out called Moon, which is a sci fi movie that has gotten great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but it only came out for a very limited release and appearantly we got the location wrong. Que sera sera etc etc etc. We'll find it somewhere else I guess.

Right now, we're both using this rather awesome site called Livestrong.com. It is basically a way to record your weight and food consumption. Here's a look at my most recent chart:

As you can see, I am not going to be able to make my goal of losing 30 pounds by the end of the year, but at a steady rate of 2 pounds every 10 days, I should be somewhere where I want to be early next year. The wonderful thing about this is that it helps me track what might be just anomolies in weight gain vs something that is more of an alarming trend. Of course, the down side is that you have to enter all that you're eating into the site, but I find it to be worth it.

No News is Good News

2009-06-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

Quiet week.

I went to Augusta on Sunday to help Grandma. We had a rather heavy weekend planned, but had to change it at the last minute. We're planning most of what we planned to do this weekend for late July (perhaps).

We both got some work done around the house, watched more Madmen and Tom Baker Dr. Who and a bit of Burn Notice. Jennifer is doing Belly Dancing lessons, which she likes A LOT, and doing a lot of crocheting.

I've got a lot of side projects going, including working with actors on my podcast, helping as project coordinator on someone else's movie for Project Management experience, and trying to arrange for freelance writers to write for the role playing game side of things. I am also reading more of the Jim Butcher books and recently finished the Kim Harrison book mom leant me.

Interesting and Chaotic Times

2009-06-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well, this week has been interesting. I'll start with the most interesting stuff and go from there.

This Saturday we went to the AVP Atlanta Open Vollyball tournament. It was pretty cool. Basically they were set up by the highway near an old abandoned steel mill called Atlantic Station. They had three different volliball set ups, two small qualifiers and a 'winner's circle.' We spent most of our time watching the winner's circle. It was a pretty good deal, since we got a block of time from 10:00 to 5:30. We got there at 11:00 and were there for most of that. The players were very very good both on the men's and women's side. There was, however, more spiking on the men's side primarily due to height advantages. We got to see the Olympic gold medalists play which was also interesting.

Friday night we went to go see UP which we quite enjoyed. Saturday night after volliball we rushed home, got changed and then went to see The Tempest at the Shakespear Tavern. It was also quite good and whoever they have as the new creative director is really putting a change on things. They're appearantly having some financial difficulties which is a bit sad though.

Sunday we did all manner of house hold chores, trying to get the place a bit more spic and span. The back yard has become a bit of a jungle and Jennifer is working to slowly clear it. We watched a bit of Lost (which we like) and Doctor Who (the old ones with Tom Baker.) I have also recently started reading White Witch, Black Curse, which mom leant me.

Monday night we watched Ali on Netflix. It is quite good. Jennifer made an awesome salad and sandwich dinner which was quite welcome after the...interesting...day I'd had.

Picking up things a bit in the movie area. I'm trying to build Project Management experience for the PMP, so I've agreed to act as Project Coordinator for Interstate Films for a film and more if it works out well. It doesn't pay, but they're quite ambitious and it looks like it will be interesting. I'm also working with Mom to help potentially do some screen writing for a project she's working with called the Sentinel Chronicles.

Jennifer has recently started taking Belly Dancing lessons every Tuesday night and she absolutely loves it!

Life

2009-05-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well, this weekend Julie, Grandma and I went to prep her house for the movers. It will take some time to fix things, but we made a good start. Julie was particularly helpful. We're going back in two weeks.

Friday night Jennifer and I saw Angels and Demons which is OK and then later watched a lot of Netflix including Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Doctor Who, Mad Men (which is suprisingly good but not family friendly), this BIZARRE australian claymation thing called Harvey Krumpet and Connections 1. I also got some reading and writing done.

Jennifer did a truly impressive job of making a dent in the jungle that has become our backyard.

I still need to make some long term plans over exactly what to do with my degree at this point, but the immediate plans are to get my PMP (the equivalent of the bar as it is for lawyers) and to get Project Management experience.

Trip to Boston

2009-05-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

Normally I would have written this each day as we did it, because there are often so many neat things on such trips, that writing it all up in a summary is just too much. I don't like writing such long posts, and I doubt many people like to read them, so I'll summarize but try to provide relevant details as well. I wish that Boston had not been such an internet deficient city. Oh sure, there was wireless everywhere, but no rentable kiosks of you didn't have a lap top.

We got an early start on Thursday morning, taking the train to the airport and then flying directly to Boston. Did you know that you have to pay an extra $15 dollars now for ONE non carry on baggage? There are no free ones any more. They do (to our pleasant suprise) still offer free peanuts and a single softdrink mid flight, but they're now doing what Aer Lingus did on trip to Ireland in terms of pushing snacks and better beverages to sell. Though they're still not yet hawking random merchandise. I imagine it is only a matter of time. We got a car at the dollar rental place, and while most of the staff was nice, the lady we rented from kept trying (about five or six times) to add more stuff on to the vehicle. We declined. We then went to the hotel, The Inn at Crystal Cove, which we liked quite a bit. We later decided to see a movie, but Angels and Demons wasn't out yet. We ended up seeing X-men Origins which was entirely forgettable and a waste of the $12 a peice we paid for it.

Let me take a moment to talk about Winthrop. It is entirely an accident that we ended up staying there, but the Wikipedia article really doesn't do it justice. It is in some ways reminiscent of Boulder near Denver but it is a bit more than that. The town is full of these majestic (though crumbling) turn of the century three story houses that are absolutely awesome, but the town itself is full of middle class working folk. It is a small town near a large one, and it is very noticiable by the complete lack of corporate logos all over the town. You don't realize how much your subconcious mind accepts these things until you're in a town that doesn't have them. There was a Duncan Donuts, but appearantly they had to fight to get in the town. Corporate america would hate Winthrop, but personally it is exactly the kind of place I'd love to go. The locals seem nice, though I can also tell you don't want to piss them off. Also an attitude I can greatly respect. As a side note, I would not recommend navigating the twisty maze of streets in the city without a handy GPS. We are quite pleased with our Tom Tom which performed much better than the brain dead Verizon Navigator.

Friday was our tourist day and after a bit of a late start (partly getting back late from the mediocre movie) we went to Fenway Park, which is one of the oldest parks in Baseball. Jennifer is a huge baseball fan, and while she is a brave's fan over the Red Sox, she is a massive fan of Ted Williams, whose book taught her a lot about the fundamentals of baseball. We took several pictures which we will post in short order (probably to Facebook). Jennifer bought a few knicknacks including a pennant for her father and two hat pins. Then we went to see the USS Constitution, which is the oldest commissioned active warship afloat. It was a US Naval Vessel in 1796, and is one of the six original frigates commissioned by George Washington. After that, we went to see Boston Park, and then Jennifer did a bit of shopping. We were going to do the "Duck Tour" but decided that since we were both exhuasted and that this was a vacation, we'd do it next time. This turned out to be a good idea since by now I had a small sore on my upper right foot. Nothing major but it hurts a bit.

On Saturday we did Graduation. We had a relaxing Saturday morning (mainly because we decided not to do the Duck Tour) and then went to Boston University. We got there early for the pre reception, but since I didn't know anyone there from Adam, we toured the campus instead. It is HUGE, lenthwise about twice that of BYU, but probably about equal to BYU in terms of total area. The graduation itself went well. Initially, when I showed up to register, they handed me a sign that said "Project Management" and I thought I was going to lead the procession for my group, but it turns out I was just the first guy to show up, and that it was actually carried by the alphabetically first person (probably Aaron Aaaaaace or something). The ceremony was two hours long and they handed me a diploma. I am quite pleased to have the degree, since it is both a life goal and hopefully a tool to help me change to a different career. We'll see how it works out.

Sunday we came home. I picked up Thunder from Mom and Skip. We watched a bit of Lost and then slept. It had been an exhausting trip.

The incompotence of American Express

2009-05-13T08:09:00.001-07:00

Sent to American Express:

To whom it may concern,

This morning I found out that, 4 days before we were to go on vacation, our card was full of over $2300 worth of fraudulent charges. I was informed in no less than 3 phone calls to your customer service department, that it would take 30 days to resolve this issue, that I would get no details about what was going on or why, and that my card was essentially locked for 30 days so I could not continue accrueing rewards. I recently spent 150 hours dealing with someone ELSE hitting my car, I am in no mood to lose more money due to someone ELSE's actions.

Your fraud department has informed me that there is nothing they can do about this, besides, at best, to wipe the fraudulent transactions from our record THIRTY DAYS from now. This is in reference to case XXXXXXXX. Since apparently your fraud and customer service departtment can't do anything about this, I have thus far contacted:

Hank Johnson
Johnny Isakson
Saxby Chambliss
United Airlines
FTC Identity Fraud
Treasury Inspector General
Chicago Police
Illinois Attorney General
Interpol
Guragon Commissioner of Police in India
Georgia Attorney General

And I will be contacting anyone else who I think might be able to do something about this. Furthermore, when I am asked about American Express, I'll tell them "Well they have great customer service, but you'd better hope no one jams up your card with criminally fraudulent charges because apparantly it takes them 30 days to be able to do anything about getting the fraudulent charges off."

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Thomas C. Ricks

Life

2009-05-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

Well we're getting ready to go to Boston this Thursday. We broke down and got tickets, since it would have been a sixteen hour drive. Still, I'd rather have waited a few more weeks before hitting any major expenses, but in this case it was probably worth it. Probably. I guess in some ways I can be a cheap bastard.

We celebrated mother's day with Mom on Sunday with Julie, Skip, Mom, Jennifer, Grandma and I. It was nice. We mainly talked a lot though there was this brief bizarre timewarp where we started watching something on the screen, I remember an instense pain in my forehead like someone was jabbing a spike through my eye on the inside, and then suddenly two hours of my life had been wiped away due to mental defenses erasing the horrific experience that I had just watched. There were vague mental salves of "it wasn't really that bad" and "Hey, there were actually funny moments like um.....well those are all a blur now too because your mind has been forced to heal itself" and "There actually wasn't any dancing...that you remember" and "Of course there won't be any sequels."

We saw the second season finale of Robin Hood. Its convinced me to start a sixth blog about reviewing the stuff I watch, see, hear or read. If I put something there in the future that I refence here I'll link it, but the long story short is this: If you're going to do a television show and the actor wants more money, I'm not a fan of getting rid of the actor, but I understand it from a business perspective. Television audiences are trained to accept this. What I am not prepared to accept is that if you are going to do a show about Robin Hood, you do not kill Maid Marion off and replace her with Guy of Gisborn's sister who is the NEW secret spy inside of the castle and also Robin's romantic love interest. Nuh uh. Off the netflix queue you go like a good little evil stupid thing. I mean...SERIOUSLY...who thinks these things up?

I'm beginning to wonder if the british might be able to make all around better television (scripted not reality-almost all reality television is garbage no matter what nationality) but simply cannot grasp the concept of ending a series properly.

We also saw Star Trek Friday night. It was excellent and I highly recommend seeing it.

Life

2009-05-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Well, we now have tickets and I should have my cap and gown. I also have a new car, a 2008 Cherry Red Kia Rio. Not exactly a mercedes Benz, in fact, not even close, but since our consolidated loans are probably gonna be somewhere in the rate of 330-400 a month by my calculation, I'll hold off on the ritzy cars until we own a home, have children, and I actually have a project manager's job that pays well.

Which could be a while, but it will be a lot sooner now that I've graduated.

Jennifer's birthday was over the last weekend. I got her a gift certificate at a shoe place which she liked a lot and a digital camera. She has also received checks, a magazine subscription and another gift certificate to Amazon.

We declined to watch Wolverine over the weekend after hearing really bad things about it. Instead, on Friday night, we celebrated Jennifer's birthday...buying shoes...which normally I'm not a fan of, but in this case she enjoyed it and it was for her birthday so I dealt with it. We also had Thai food which was excellently good.

Saturday we went to a thing for Mythic Journey's which some friends were doing, kind of a screening. It was rather interesting and we both enjoyed it.

Sunday we both went to Mom and Skip's house where we celebrated Jennifer's Birthday with Mom, Skip and Grandma. We had a Turtle Custard Pie (quite good) and Lasanga. We also watched the second half of the Terry Pratchet Inspired Hogfather, which was fun.

We're enjoying Lost Season 3 right now, which is much MUCH better than I expected it to be.

All bow to me, for I am the Master...

2009-04-30T04:57:00.000-07:00

Of randomly filling out bubbles in a final. Someone wins the lottery every time it is played, and the one ADVANTAGE of freakishly few questions worth a freakishly large amount is that the odds of that incredibly small chance of you filling out the random guesses in such a way as to get a decent score goes up...

I got a B in the class.

I should be proud, and I am for most of my degree, but not so much on the final. I think Divine Intervention played a bit of a hand. The fact that others probably complained helped with the curve, but even with a curve breaking its back, I had to have help on that.

We also now have a new car. I'll try to post a pic later.

Now I need to gather paperwork.